Airlines
Five facets of EIA Terminal get improvements
Now underway is the Expansion 2012 project at Edmonton International Airport (EIA), which is five separate projects in total. These include an expanded terminal building, a new Central Tower, expanded aircraft parking space, a new power substation and an upgraded central utilities plant. The new EIA terminal is designed to make check-in simpler, security faster, departure lounges more comfortable, and the overall experience for passengers more relaxing and memorable. The Central Hall retail area and U.S. Departures lounge are now open. Canadian Border Service Agency, the...
BC delivers on commitment to eliminate jet fuel tax
British Columbia has delivered on a promise to eliminate the aviation fuel tax for international flights, effective April 1, a move welcomed by TIAC, the NACC, Air Canada and WestJet. According to officials, the initiative will reduce costs for airlines, create jobs and give travellers more choice while supporting the "Canada Starts Here - The BC Jobs Plan"goal of expanding markets. Each new daily international flight creates between 150 and 200 new jobs at Vancouver International Airport. About 400 additional indirect jobs are created in the community at business such as hotels, restaurants,...
Etihad adds Washington to North American lineup
Etihad Airways has announced the launch of non-stop daily flights to Washington, D.C., the airline's fourth destination in North America, from March 31, subject to regulatory approvals. The Washington region is home to America's second largest market flying to the Middle East, after New York. Etihad's new service will link D.C. with Abu Dhabi, a vibrant and growing hub for business, culture and tourism. The direct flights will be operated by a three-class A340-500 aircraft. Each flight will offer 12 Diamond First class, 28 Pearl Business class and 200 Coral Economy seats, for a total 3,360...
AC & IAMAW: Tentative deal rejected
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) have failed to ratify the tentative agreement that was reached with Air Canada on Feb. 10. Responding to the announcement of the voting results, Air Canada said that it is business as usual for the airline. Following the vote, the conciliation commissioner, the Honourable Justice Louise Otis, will be filing her report to the Minister of Labour, Lisa Raitt, for consideration and determining next steps. Air Canada said it is confident that there is sufficient time for the parties to avoid a disruption. The...
Have your say on airfare advertising regulations
Consumers have until Sunday to let the Canadian Transportation Agency know what they would like to see in air services price advertising regulations. Since Feb. 13, the agency has been hosting an online consultation at airservicesadvertising.ca to allow Canadians to easily post new ideas, comment on ideas, and/or support which ideas they like best. The two-week consultation closes on Feb. 26. Submissions gathered from the online consultation will help the agency in the drafting of regulations requiring air carriers to include in their advertisements all costs to the carrier, as well as all...
Encore Cruises receives preferred rates from WestJet
Encore Cruises has received preferred rates from WestJet for guests booking flights and cruise packages together. According to officials, this new arrangement increases flexibility and choice when choosing a flight to best match a cruise product, in addition to enhancing the overall travel experience. Encore's Air/Sea program, with Westjet's preferred rate, offers choice and flexibility with more than 70 different scheduled airlines leaving daily from a multitude of gateways across Canada. In addition to the value-added airfares available with Westjet, the flight portion is 100% refundable up...
AC confirms ratification of new agreement
Air Canada reports that it has received confirmation from the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA) that the airline's flight dispatchers have ratified a new collective agreement. The agreement has also been approved by the Air Canada board of directors. The five-year agreement is in effect until Feb. 29, 2016. Air Canada's 74 flight dispatchers are based at the airline's central operations control centre near Toronto Pearson International Airport and assist flight crew in the preparation for flight departures and arrivals....
Hawaiian Airlines honoured
Hawaiian Airlines has earned the airline industry's first-ever verified aviation carbon credits for its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Since 2005, Hawaiian has used an eco-friendly engine washing technology on its aircraft, the result of which has been a reduction of nearly 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions overall since then. This is the equivalent of removing 700 cars from the roadways annually. "We are proud to be the first airline to receive verified carbon credits for reducing emissions,"said Mark Dunkerley, president of Hawaiian Airlines. "Engine washing with EcoPower is helping us...