WESTJET SCORING POINTS IN EDMONTON

Calling Alberta’s capital “the heart of our ambitious growth strategy,” WestJet’s chief executive told Edmonton’s business and community leaders Wednesday that the airline is intent on being the city’s top airline and cementing its “well-deserved position on the global stage, making it one of the most connected cities of its size in North America." MORE

U.S. GETS TOUGH WITH AIRLINES
Automatic fare refunds, more disclosure for consumers

The US government issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or cancelling a reservation. The Transportation Department said airlines will be required to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for cancelled flights and “significant” delays, which it defines as three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international ones. MORE

AGENTS PAY PRICE FOR SKIPLAGGING
And it’s unfair, says WTAAA

As airfares continue to surge, travellers are increasingly turn to “skiplagging” for more affordable options – a practice frowned upon by airlines. But it’s travel advisors who often pay the price, says the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), which is urging airlines to stop penalizing agents when clients break the rules. MORE

MORE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN THE PIPELINE

Flight simulator maker CAE Inc. says it has signed an agreement with Nav Canada to help train flight service specialists and air traffic controllers beginning this fall. In July, IATA called out air traffic control organizations in North America, which include Nav Canada, for staffing shortages that "continue to produce unacceptable delays and disruptions." MORE

FOUL BALL
FAA to probe baseball coach in cockpit during Toronto flight

US authorities are investigating after a video that surfaced on social media showing a man who appears to be Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens sitting in the pilot's seat "at cruise altitude" while bound for Toronto. The Instagram post, which has been taken down, included a caption that said "the captain and the first officer" of a United Airlines charter flight had allowed the poster to sit in the cockpit during the flight from Denver. MORE

GET USED TO IT
Annoying or flexible, airlines ‘love’ ancillary fees

Jay Sorensen flies both business class and economy. While the differences between the two have always been stark – priority boarding and free alcohol are decades-old features of first-class travel – lately the gulf seems to have widened, says the consulting firm president. Economy-class trips are defined by shrinking legroom, narrower cushion space, diminishing rewards for frequent fliers and, especially, the myriad fees that can pile up like thunderclouds as airlines increasingly offer top-up options on their tickets. MORE

MORE ASIA WITH WESTJET VIA KOREAN AIR CODESHARE

WestJet guests will gain access to six additional cities across four Asian countries from Incheon International Airport (ICN) through an expansion of WestJet's codeshare agreement with Korean Air, one of the world's only 5-star airlines as awarded by Skytrax. The new service will begin on May 17, corresponding with the previously announced launch of seasonal service between YYC and ICN. MORE

MADE IN CANADA
WestJet buys first sustainable fuel

WestJet reports that it has purchased the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied in Canada by Shell Aviation, marking another milestone in the company’s mission to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and signifying another step forward in making Canada's aviation industry more sustainable. MORE

EMIRATES APOLOGIES FOR DUBAI DISRUPTION

In an open letter to customers affected by the historic rain event in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates last week, Emirates Airlines president Sir Tim Clark apologized Saturday for disruptions to its service due to the weather and the carrier’s response, which he admitted was “far from perfect,” but which also gave a glimpse into the airlines’ “all hands on deck” response to providing thousands of passengers with rooms, meals, water and medical attention. MORE

YVR VOTED BEST AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
But Doha is best in the world

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has been named Best Airport in North America at the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards in Frankfurt, Germany. Skytrax is recognized as the world's premier international airport awards, with honours assessed according to votes cast by more than 13-million passengers worldwide. MORE

AIR CANADA DROPS PUCK FOR PWHL FAN FLIGHT

Citing an ongoing commitment to gender equality, Air Canada has announced the first Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) edition of its popular Fan Flight program, giving young fans a chance to attend a game during the upcoming PHWL Finals. MORE

100th ANNIVERSARY
Prince Rupert remembers role in first round-the-world flight

Four US Army airplanes arrived in Prince Rupert, BC, on April 6, 1924 – their first stop in what was the first-ever flight around the world, a historic 175-day journey crossing the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.  MORE

CATERERS STRIKE AT PEARSON, NO SNACKS FOR PAX

About 800 airline food service staff at Toronto's Pearson airport went on strike Tuesday, leaving thousands of passengers without meals. Gate Gourmet employees voted 96 percent against an offer from the Swiss-owned travel catering company on Monday night, Teamsters Canada said. MORE

WESTJET ENCORE PILOTS ANNOUNCE DEAL, AVOID STRIKE

The union representing WestJet Encore pilots says a tentative deal has been struck with their employer, days before the pilots had threatened to go on strike. MORE

LYNX BLAMES SABRE FOR REFUND WOES

Lynx Air says Sabre Corp. has "refused to assist" with passenger reimbursement for the now-defunct ultra-low-cost carrier, which ceased operations and filed for creditor protection in late February. MORE

TRAVEL AND TRAFFIC DISRUPTED IN U.S. CITIES
Demonstrations cause chaos

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked roadways in Illinois, California, New York and the Pacific Northwest on Monday, temporarily shutting down travel into some of America’s most heavily used airports, onto the Golden Gate and Brooklyn bridges and on a busy West Coast highway. MORE

AIR CANADA CANCELS ISRAEL FLIGHTS

Less than a week after re-instating flights between Canada and Israel, Air Canada cancelled service due to the weekend’s missile and drone attack against the country by Iran. Air Canada stated on its website that operations to Tel Aviv were “paused” with flights cancelled on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. At press time, the carrier said the next scheduled flight is now Thursday, April 16. MORE

SO MUCH FOR LOYALTY
American Airlines urged to reconsider punitive measures

Calling American Airlines’ decision to award loyalty points only to clients that book directly or through a small number of “preferred agencies a “punitive measure” against travel agencies that choose to use third-party booking platforms, the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) warns the policy is “a threat to the travel agent ecosystem.” MORE

GRANDE PRAIRIE IMAGINES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

The Grande Prairie Airport has received $140,000 from the Alberta provincial government to explore renovations that could include adding customs and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The money will fund a Canadian Border Services Agency Facilities Study. MORE

‘TIRED AND AGED,’ TORONTO PEARSON PLANS FACELIFT

Toronto’s airports authority has announced a multibillion-dollar plan to update and modernize Toronto Pearson Airport. The program will see the refurbishment of existing airport assets, including high-speed taxi lanes, a modernized airfield electric lighting and control system, and interim terminal facilities. MORE