Aviation

It seems to be everywhere. Now it’s Aer Lingus who says it has been able to re-accommodate, refund or rebook about 80 percent of passengers who could be impacted by the upcoming industrial action by its pilots. Over 240 flights over five days are expected to be cancelled, with as many 35,000 passengers affected.

American Airlines has put an unspecified number of employees on leave for their involvement in an incident in January in which several Black passengers were removed from a flight in Phoenix, allegedly over a complaint about body odor. American CEO Robert Isom wrote in a note to staff that the incident was unacceptable.

Air Transat has introduced several new route options from Montreal. Year-round flights are now available to Nantes, France, while additional frequencies have been added to Marrakech, Morocco, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. All options are now open for booking.

Boeing CEO David Calhoun defended the company’s safety record during a contentious US Senate hearing this week, while lawmakers accused him of placing profits over safety, failing to protect whistleblowers, and even getting paid too much. Relatives of people who died in two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners were in the room, some holding photos of their loved ones, to remind the CEO of the stakes.

WestJet and its airplane mechanics have agreed to resume negotiations, removing a strike threat that had been set to begin Thursday evening – a possibility that had resulted in the carrier cancelling nearly 50 flights in the days preceding in preparation.

Molly Brandt, executive chef for in-flight catering company Gate Gourmet, sees her role as similar to that of a fashion designer creating haute couture. Her tasting events for airline clients are similar to a runway show, she said, in that she unveils one-of-a-kind menu items that have taken months to develop.

Another day, another strike deadline – this time by screening officers at Toronto Pearson airport, who have set Saturday at midnight for labour action, according to a report in the Toronto Star. Until then, the private company that employs the workers, Garda World, says that negotiations will continue with the union representing 2,800 workers.

WestJet mechanics say they are poised to walk off the job early as Thursday night after serving the airline with a 72-hour strike notice yesterday. In response, the airline has started cancelling and consolidating flights “in order to park aircraft in a safe and organized manner.”

A new report says travellers are paying significantly more to fly within Canada during peak tourism season compared with last year, as limited capacity and competition outweigh easing demand to push up ticket costs. Prices for domestic flights in July through September rose 14 percent on average over the past 12 months, according to figures from the Flight Centre Travel Group. 

Delta Air Lines has been designated best airline in America for the sixth year in a row based on its reliability, experience, cost, reach, and loyalty offerings. The Best Airlines Report 2024 from respected travel media platform The Points Guy uses a weighted formula to evaluate objective data covering every aspect of a traveller’s journey with the airline, from the booking process to baggage delivery, as well as the system for earning and redeeming rewards for future trips.

WestJet Encore has averted a strike at the regional airline after pilots gave the green light to a deal with their employer. The Air Line Pilots Association says its members have ratified a five-year contract that offers higher pay, more flexible schedules and “a better work-life balance.”

Airports are demanding $4.1 million in unpaid fees and debt from the defunct discount carrier Lynx Air, which already faces more than $200 million in claims from creditors. In court filings, authorities for the Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Halifax and Winnipeg airports asked for an order instructing Lynx to hand over airport improvement fees that the Alberta-based airline held in reserve.

Air Transat operated its first flight between YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport to Marrakech-Menara International Airport (TS396) Wednesday night. The exclusive non-stop service, the only one between Canada and Marrakech, will operate year-round: twice weekly during the summer (until October) and once weekly during the winter (from November to April).

Citing strong demand, Porter Airlines says it is doubling capacity on its routes from Toronto Pearson to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, starting Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 respectively. Both cities will be served by twice daily flights on new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to passengers of a flight that hit extreme turbulence last month, in a rare case that killed one passenger and injured dozens. The Being 777 jet, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew from London to Singapore, ran into sudden turbulence over the Irawaddy basin on May 20, hurling people and items around the cabin.

The union representing mechanics at WestJet says its members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative agreement with the airline. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents some 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and other skilled trade positions at the carrier, says about 97 percent of its members cast a ballot against the deal.

On previous occasions announcing Virgin Atlantic service to Canada, Richard Branson descended from a helicopter in full hockey gear over an ice rink at Toronto’s Harbourfront. Another time, he arrived in aircraft accompanied by an emerging local pop star named Drake. It remains to be seen if Sir Richard will again be on hand and what may be planned when the airline launches service next year between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and London Heathrow (LHR).

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Star Alliance are enhancing their long-standing relationship in the field of travel compliance solutions, with the Alliance adopting a next-gen travel documentation and verification system that supports contactless travel for its 26 member airlines.

The bustling and high-stress atmosphere of airports can be challenging for neurodiverse individuals. To address this concern, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) have launched of a series of interactive travel training videos that simulates the travel experience from the curb to cloud, enabling individuals to familiarize themselves with various travel processes and empowering them to approach real travel situations with confidence.

Air Transat and Porter Airlines have launched the first phase of the carriers’ joint venture in which bookings of direct and connecting flights can be made through each other’s distribution channels provided a wider network of destinations for passengers.

WestJet Airlines has replaced its basic ticket tier with a new fare category that does away with a free carry-on bag and other perks travellers once took for granted. The new “UltraBasic category,” the lowest priced of seven fare classes, is a no-frills fare and went into effect this week.

A United Airlines flight from Vancouver to Houston was met by emergency responders from the Houston Fire Department on arrival as more than two dozen passengers suffered flu-like symptoms including nausea and vomiting.  The plane was later withdrawn for deep cleaning as a “precautionary measure.”.

ACTA is urging that its travel industry members take part in a federal Competition Bureau market study on the state of competition within the domestic air passenger services sector. The study aims to identify opportunities for enhancing competition to benefit consumers, employees, and businesses, and the deadline for survey responses must be made by June 10. 

Air Canada is ramping up its flights to India this year including new non-stop service from Toronto to Mumbai, the country’s financial capital. In addition, the airline says it will boost its service from Montreal to Delhi to daily flights as well as offering daily seasonal flights from Calgary to Delhi, via London. The services start Oct. 27.

Regional air service in New Brunswick will get a boost in September when Saint John Airport adds new weekday flights to Halifax, reviving a route that was cancelled because of the pandemic. Quebec-based PASCAN Aviation will offer two daily return flights between Saint John and Halifax from Monday to Friday, as well as one return flight between Bathurst and Saint John every weekday.

Despite record profits for the global airline industry, the cost of flights is likely to go up, IATA warned Monday at its annual meeting in Dubai. The association says that while carriers recover from the groundings worldwide from the coronavirus pandemic, there are many current costs likely to push ticket prices ever higher, among them worldwide inflation.

Seeking close the wage gap with counterparts south of the border, the union representing 5,000 Air Canada pilots says it intends to request help from a federal conciliator to assist in stalled contract negotiations with the airline, claiming the two sides are not close to a deal despite a year of contract talks.