Airlines
Big jump in airline seats slated for Hawaii
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is forecasting significant growth in total scheduled non-stop air seats to Hawaii in 2012. The projection is based on flights appearing in OAG and Sabre ADI airline schedules as of February 2012. The total scheduled seat capacity is expected to climb 7.7% in 2012 over last year - an additional 700,000 seats into the state - buoyed by gains in all of Hawaii's major markets. This includes considerable increases in air seats from the Asia and Oceania markets, reaching a 10-year high. With the total scheduled seat count reaching nearly 10 million seats, the...
KLM Calgary-Amsterdam flights go daily
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced it will expand its presence on the Calgary-Amsterdam route by offering a daily flight as of June 6, increasing its seat capacity by 24% over the previous summer. Flights will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a total of 243 seats -- 213 in economy class and 30 in business class. After a 13-year absence from the Alberta market, the airline reopened the route on May 3, 2009 amidst the economic crisis....
HAC alarmed by cross-border air purchases
An increasing -- and disturbing -- number of Canadians continue to travel to the United States to purchase their airline tickets. In its 2012 Canadian Travel Intentions Survey, the Hotel Association of Canada's (HAC) reports that 15% of Canadians surveyed said they'd travelled to the U.S. to buy cheaper airline tickets in 2011, with the bulk of those (21%) coming from Ontario and British Columbia (19%). Most (23%) were in the 35 to 44 age bracket. But perhaps more alarmingly, HAC found that a further 33% of those questioned said that they plan to cross the border to shop for cheaper airfares...
Air Canada launches the Air Canada Foundation
In celebration of its 75 years of community involvement, Air Canada has launched the Air Canada Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focused on the health and well-being of children in need. "Throughout its history, Air Canada has recognized the importance of giving back to the communities it serves in Canada and abroad,"said Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu. "The creation of a foundation is the natural evolution for our community investment efforts of the past seventy-five years, and brings together all our various initiatives under one banner. Ever mindful that there are...
AC’s Calgary-Tokyo Narita flights now year-round
Air Canada has announced that its Calgary to Tokyo Narita non-stop flights will operate year-round beginning this winter. "Since we launched this route in March 2010, demand has been strong from business and leisure travellers as well as freight forwarders. This is a great example of how the Calgary business community, the Calgary Airport Authority, Travel Alberta and our travel partners understand that our industry is a significant catalyst for economic growth and have all come together to enable sustainable, year-round, direct links to Asia via Tokyo Narita's international gateway which...
WestJet sets new single-day record
WestJet flew 52,992 guests Sunday, setting a new single-day record for the airline. The previous record, set on Dec. 22, 2011, saw 52,397 guests fly across the airline's network. The new single-day record follows a busy week for travel, which saw students at many Canadian post-secondary institutions head out for mid-term break. In provinces with a Family Day holiday, families took the week off to enjoy a warm-weather vacation. On average, WestJet flies approximately 40,000 guests on 425 flights per day....
Lufthansa back at ITB
After a three-year hiatus, Lufthansa will once again be present with its own booth at the ITB international tourism fair in Berlin, March 7-11. At its newly designed area in Hall 25, the airline will display its current business and leisure travel offerings, as well as new ground and in-flight products, to trade guests and the general public. Lufthansa's latest seat offerings will also be on exhibit, including the new Business Class seat, which will be unveiled to the public for the very first time. "Our participation in the world's largest tourism fair not only reflects our strong commitment...
Cathay takes delivery of new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
Cathay Pacific Airways has taken delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER that is the first aircraft to feature its Premium Economy Class product and new long-haul Economy Class seats. The aircraft - the airline's 25th 777-300ER - arrived at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (Feb. 26). At the same, the airline also received its fifth Boeing 747-8F from the manufacturer. As well as introducing a totally new seat and entertainment system, Cathay has designed the entire customer experience to be more special for its new Premium Economy Class passengers. The experience features a quieter, more...