Aviation


  • TRANSAT BETS ON CARIBBEAN, EUROPE
    by Staff Writer - Transat A.T. Inc. hopes to turn Canadians' aversion to U.S. travel into a boon as it bets on new routes to the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe rather than destinations in the land of Donald Trump. Chief executive Annick Guérard made the case Thursday for a winter schedule that includes fresh flights between Toronto and Guyana, Fredericton and Cancun, Mexico, and Quebec City and Martinique.

  • WESTJET OPENS SCANDINAVIA WITH SAS PARTNERSHIP
    by Staff Writer - WestJet and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) announced a new interline partnership agreement that enhances seamless connectivity across the Atlantic and throughout the Nordic countries. WestJet guests will gain single-ticket access to 29 destinations across Denmark, Sweden and Norway including key cities such as Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Luleå and Malmö.

  • THE NEED THE FOR SPEED: Trump directive paves way for return of supersonic flight
    by Staff Writer - Donald Trump wants to clear the way for supersonic flights again. To that end, the US president has instructed the FAA to eliminate the 1973 speed restriction that prohibits flights over Mach 1 and replace it with a noise standard.

  • PORTER BOOSTS EAST COAST OPTIONS
    by Staff Writer - East coast connectivity is being boosted by the launch of two new routes from Porter Airlines – Toronto to Deer Lake, Nfld., and YYZ to Charlottetown. The former began yesterday (June 10), the latter takes flight Friday (June 13). The flights open up additional travel possibilities across the country, with connecting options via Toronto linking to Western Canada.

  • CZECH IT OUT: Air Canada Prague service takes flight
    by Staff Writer - Air Canada’s newest international flight from Toronto launched service to Prague, Czech Republic, on the weekend, the latest of the carrier’s newly inaugurated European routes, which also included Montreal-Porto, Portugal last week.

  • TRANSAT PAVES WAY FOR GROWTH AFTER DEBT RESTRUCTURE
    by Staff Writer - Transat AT Inc. says it has restructured its pandemic-era debt in a deal that forgives hundreds of millions of dollars owed. Most of that reduction is due to about $380 million of debt forgiven under the agreement in principle. The Montreal-based company, which owns Air Transat, said it had cut its total debt with a federal Crown corporation by more than half to $334 million from $772 million. 

  • HOW TO COPE WITH FLYING ANXIETY
    by Staff Writer - Being at least a little nervous about flying is understandable. As Mel Brooks once said: “If God wanted us to fly, He would have given us tickets.” But for some people it causes deep anxiety that could require professional help.

  • WESTJET INTEGRATION: Key changes kick in for Sunwing Vacations pax
    by Staff Writer - Following the completion of the transition of the last Sunwing aircraft fleet into the WestJet fleet last week, the company is advising of several changes affecting Sunwing Vacations passengers going forward.

  • SIT DOWN!: Turkey cracks down on disembarkation chaos
    by Staff Writer - Airline passengers in Turkey who unbuckle their seat belts, access overhead compartments, or occupy the aisle before their plane has fully stopped now face fines under new regulations issued by the country’s civil aviation authority.

  • BEEN NICE KNOWING YA: Sunwing takes final flight as WestJet integration complete
    by Staff Writer - With its final flight taking place yesterday (May 28), the WestJet Group says it has officially completed its integration of Sunwing Airlines – an operation two years in the making after the former acquired the latter in May, 2023. 

  • NEW HORIZONS FOR AIR TRANSAT
    by Staff Writer - Air Transat continues to explore new horizons in South America with the launch of an exclusive new route between Toronto (YYZ) and Medellín (MDE), via Cartagena (CTG). The carrier is also extending service to both Bordeaux, France, and Valencia, Spain, next winter.

  • ITA AIRWAYS BEGINS STAR ALLIANCE INTEGRATION
    by Staff Writer - ITA Airways has officially received begun integrating into Star Alliance following a verdict by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Building on its induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, this decision paves the way for its entry into the world's largest airline alliance, which notably includes Air Canada.

  • GIVE IT BACK: Ryanair demands flight attendants return raises.
    by Staff Writer - A Spanish High Court judge ruled in March that an agreement over salaries between the union CCOO and Ryanair last year was not valid after rival union USO contested it in January. Now Irish airline Ryanair has asked some flight attendants in Spain to pay back thousands of euros in raises they have received since last year as part of the union deal later struck down in court.

  • WESTJET COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY
    by Staff Writer - WestJet has launched its participation in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, which allows guests with non-visible disabilities to discreetly signal that they may require more assistance while travelling, including extra time, patience and support.

  • I WANT MY BAG AND I WANT IT NOW
    by Staff Writer - Travellers like to get their bags. So declares the International Air Transport Association, which has launched a Global Baggage Roadmap to modernize baggage operations. To be developed with airlines, airports, and industry partners over a mere 10-year timeframe, the roadmap sets a clear path, says IATA, to improve both operational efficiency and traveller satisfaction

  • AIR TRANSAT ADDS TRIO OF NEW CANADIAN GATEWAYS
    by Staff Writer - Air Transat has announced the addition of three new departure points in Canada for winter 2025-26. Travellers from Windsor (YQG) will have access to weekly flights to Punta Cana (PUJ), while those directly connect clients in Charlottetown (YYG) and Fredericton (YFC) to Cancún (CUN).

  • THE WORLD’S MOST PROFITABLE AIRLINE: Staff receive 22-week salary bonus
    by Staff Writer - Emirates says it is the world’s most profitable airline, having reported last week that it earned annual profits of $5.2 billion. The Dubai-based carrier served 53.7 million passengers out of its hub of Dubai International Airport, compared to 51.9 million passengers in the fiscal year prior. 

  • RAISING THE STAKES: WestJet edges closer to SkyTeam with Delta, Korean Air investment
    by Staff Writer - It was a busy week for WestJet, highlighted by the news that Delta Air Lines and Korean Air will strengthen their respective partnerships with the company through the purchase of minority equity stakes from the Onex Group, which will continue to own and control the Calgary-based carrier.

  • A SWIFT BOOT TO THE BOTTOM LINE: And where Air Canada has redeployed US capacity
    by Staff Writer - Air Canada lowered its financial forecast for the year as travellers continue to shy away from trips to the United States amid cross-border tensions, pushing the airline to hunt for demand elsewhere. The company's transborder bookings have dropped at least 13% for the next six months, chief executive Michael Rousseau said on Friday, prompting the carrier to cut flight capacity south of the border.

  • SPECIAL AIR CANADA FLIGHT CELEBRATES INDIGENOUS CULTURE
    by Staff Writer - With a crew of nine flight attendants and pilot, all with Indigenous heritage, Air Canada took flight from Vancouver to Toronto on April 27 highlighting and celebrating the professional achievements of Indigenous employees in aviation.