FEDS OFFER AIRLINES FUEL LOAN LIFELINE: Not all carriers are happy about it
The federal government has offered a loan lifeline to airlines struggling to cope with the soaring price of jet fuel, garnering a mixed response from the country’s carriers. The new program will let airlines borrow up to $150 million each, as fallout from the Iran war forces them to slash flight schedules and cut profit forecasts.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR HODGE, GOWAY NAMES MOORE CEO
Goway has named Dean Moore as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, marking a new chapter for founder Bruce Hodge, who will remain as President and Chairman and continue to oversee Goway’s subsidiary corporate travel division, Globespan Travel Management.
WESTJET, ICELANDAIR SIGN CODESHARE
WestJet and Icelandair have signed a reciprocal codeshare agreement offering travellers on both sides of the Atlantic enhanced access to a broader network of destinations with the ease of a single booking and ticket, as well as through checked baggage.
RETAIL ROUND-UP: Agent news, fams & incentives
This week: ACTA agents discovered Los Cabos, while three other ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ winners road-tripped in Nevada; First in Service (F1S) announced summit dates; Crystal takes a new Approach; and Trafalgar introduces a river cruise booking incentive.
A LOVELY COCONUT: St. Lucia resorts touts new look, Canadian incentives
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Every year, Saint Lucia’s Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa does “a ton” of enhancements to ensure the popular all-inclusive remains fresh for guests, and this year is no exception. During the resort’s annual fall closing, CBBR will totally renovate its family side – the Splash wing – following 2025’s makeover of the adult’s-only Harmony side.
ALBERTA HAILS RAIL PLAN, BUT DON’T PACK JUST YET
Alberta’s government is eyeing train connections between airports and the downtown cores of its two biggest cities as the first key projects in its new passenger rail plan. But construction isn’t expected to start any time soon and the first users will likely have to wait about 30 years.
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ONE THING AT A TIME: Trumps vow to ‘handle’ Cuba – after Iran
The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife and three other individuals, in the latest move by the Trump administration to pressure the island’s leadership that drew immediate condemnation from Havana.
PORTER JOINS IATA: Airline achieves significant milestone
Porter Airlines has officially joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a member, a milestone reflecting the airline’s rapid growth and its deepening integration with the global aviation community.
ASIA – WHERE ‘LIFE IS GOOD’ AND BUSINESS BETTER: Goway Forum dedicated to hot travel destination
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ An expected group of 300 agents and supplier partners across Goway’s roster of 20-plus destinations in Asia is convening today (Tuesday) at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, at the tour company’s inaugural Asia Forum, reflecting just how popular the region is right now for travellers, says Goway VP for Asia, Moira Smith.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE MET: Montreal’s second airport set to open new terminal June 15
Metropolitan Montreal Airport – “MET” – will officially open its new terminal next week (June 15). Upon its opening, the terminal will host operations for Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering flights connecting Canadian destinations from coast to coast. The terminal will also be able to accommodate other airlines in the future.
TRANSAT MAKES GAINS IN SPAIN: Signs interline agreement with Iberia
Air Transat and Iberia have entered a new interline partnership with Iberia, further expanding the Canadian carrier’s footprint in Spain and enhancing travel options for its customers. The agreement enables Air Transat passengers to connect via Madrid (MAD) to over 20 destinations including Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Ibiza (IBZ), Tenerife (TFN and TFS) and Alicante (ALC).
ALBANIANS AGAINST TRUMP-LINKED RESORT
A massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing growing resistance from protesters in Albania. Police fired water cannon and clashed with protesters last week and thousands continued to oppose the plan on the weekend in the capital, Tirana.