Airlines
WestJet adds three Boeing 737 MAX 8 to fleet
The WestJet Group today announced it will acquire three additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, from SMBC Aviation Capital. These aircraft are in addition to the six new-to-WestJet Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft the WestJet Group announced earlier this summer. "With our longstanding partner SMBC, we are thrilled to be adding three more Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to our growing fleet as we execute upon our mission of providing affordable air travel options to our guests," said Mike Scott, WestJet Group, executive vice-president and chief financial officer. Fleet growth on the horizon The...
Air France previews tasty new business class menu at TIFF
Air France recently offered a preview of the upcoming culinary creations in its Business Class on flights departing from Canada in presence of its Canadian ‘Chef Signature’, Olivier Perret. Come Nov. 1, Chef Perret will curate all four main dishes offered in business class from all Canadian gateways to Paris. The chef’s current contribution, which consists of vegetarian and poultry options, will now include these meat and fish gourmet meals. To create these menus dedicated for Air France customers, Chef Perret favours local and seasonal produce, adhering to the airline’s high...
ACTA, TIAC urge government to act quickly as Air Canada strike looms
Both TIAC and ACTA are urging the federal government to engage promptly in facilitating a resolution to avert another significant challenge facing the travel industry. Pilots at Air Canada have recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, which could be enacted as early as Sept. 18 if negotiations with the company fail to result in an agreement. Air Canada is the country’s largest airline, transporting up to 120,000 passengers each day. If its planes are grounded, the repercussions on the travel industry would be devastating, with Canadian consumers, employees,...
Air Canada ‘s check-in cut-off time is now just 60 minutes
Air Canada will be updating its check-in policy as of today (Sept. 4). The check-in cutoff time will now be 60 minutes across all sectors with the exception of YTZ and its Landline bus service from YHM and YKF. This change ensures a smoother, more efficient boarding process, giving customers peace of mind as they prepare for takeoff. A key benefit for status members is that upgrades will be processed 15 minutes earlier enabling you to board with your zone. As a reminder, Air Canada guests can check in their bags as early as four hours before their flight’s departure....
Travelport strengthens APAC travel content for agency customers
Travelport, has announced that agency customers can now access content from Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), Hong Kong’s newest carrier, through the Travelport+ platform. This new collaboration will support GBA’s aggressive expansion plans as Travelport+ connects the Hong Kong-based carrier to Travelport’s global network of travel retailers. With this multi-year agreement, Travelport is providing agents the ability to easily search, compare and book GBA’s fares and ancillary services. The agreement also includes GBA’s use of Travelport’s rich content and branding...
Global passenger demand continues to rise
IATA is reporting that global passenger demand continued to rise in July 2024. The industry association’s latest data indicates that: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 8.0% compared to July 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 7.4% year-on-year. The July load factor was 86.0% (+0.5ppt compared to July 2023). There was no significant negative demand impact from the CrowdStrike IT outage on 19 July. International demand rose 10.1% compared to July 2023. Capacity was up 10.5% year-on-year and the load factor...
PLAY set to connect Hamilton and Faro via Iceland in 2025
PLAY has announcedthat it will launch Hamilton to Faro, Portugal flights, via Iceland, in April 2025. The carrier, which operates service between Iceland and Europe, will inaugurate the Hamilton-Faro flights on April 12, 2025, and feature two weekly flights (Saturday and Wednesday) until Oct. 29, 2025. Tickets for the new route are now on sale. Einar Örn Ólafsson, CEO, PLAY, said: "Canadians can now experience the warmth and beauty of Portugal's stunning southern coast, with its captivating beaches, rich history, and lively culture, with our affordable flights to...
Canadian air carrier revenues continue to climb: StatsCan reports
Operating revenue for the 24 largest Canadian air carriers totalled $8.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024, up 8.1% compared with the same quarter of 2023. At $7.2 billion, passenger revenue remained the main revenue source for airlines in the first quarter of 2024, while air cargo generated $522.3 million in revenue. In the first quarter, Canadian carriers transported 22.0 million passengers on scheduled and charter services. Operating revenue continues to climb During the first quarter, operating revenue for the 24 largest Canadian air carriers (Levels I and...