Aviation

WESTJET FLIGHT ATTENDANTS OPEN STRIKE VOTE

WestJet Mainline flight attendants have officially opened a strike vote that could precipitate a work action as early as Aug. 2. Voting continues until July 15 as the union seeks a strong mandate from members to support its position at the bargaining table as negotiations continue under federal conciliation until July 11.

MEET THE NEW BOSS: Air Canada names new CEO

Air Canada has named Scandinavian Airlines head Anko Van der Werff as the Canadian airline’s next chief executive. The Montreal-based airline says Van der Werff will assume the job and join Air Canada’s board of directors by the end of January 2027.

THE PREMIUMIZATION OF AIR TRAVEL: And the widening gap at the back of the bus

They may arrive at the same destination, but two passengers on the same flight can have strikingly different travel experiences. One traveller breezes through a priority security lane and heads straight to an invite-only lounge for craft cocktails and a chef-prepared meal before boarding early. A flight attendant offering a glass of champagne and a warm hand towel welcomes the passenger to a spacious seat at the front of the plane.

AIR CANADA SCALES BACK MORE U.S. FLIGHTS

Air Canada is once again scaling back flights to the U.S. amid high jet fuel costs and lower demand for trips south of the border. Schedule changes by the country’s largest carrier show it is halting or delaying eight transborder routes starting this fall.

TRAVELPORT ADDS AC FLIGHT PASS CAPABILITY FOR NDC BOOKINGS

Travelport has announced the introduction of Air Canada Flight Pass capability within TripServices API and Smartpoint enabling Travelport-connected agencies to shop and book eligible Air Canada NDC offers using Flight Pass credits directly within the Travelport+ platform.

BRITISH AIRWAYS, PORTER ANNOUNCE CODESHARE

Effective July 8, a new codeshare agreement between Porter Airlines and British Airways will take effect, giving British Airways customers seamless access to travel on 17 select Porter Airlines domestic routes in Canada including Ottawa, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

WESTJET POSTS TOP ON-TIME PERFORMANCE

Hailing the ranking as a “major milestone in operational excellence,” WestJet reports it has earned a place among the world’s most on-time airlines in the latest Cirium On-Time Performance Report.

WESTJET HITS NEW HEIGHTS WITH JAYS: Unveils branded plane to mark partnership renewal

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ With nearly 1,000 WestJetters, Toronto Blue Jays representatives – including legendary players Pat Borders and Edwin Encarnacion – and community members in attendance, WestJet celebrated the renewal of its long-standing partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday by unveiling a new co-branded plane that will take the iconic Jays logo to 35,000 feet, and wherever the plane flies.

FIRST DOMINO TO FALL? Porter reduces fuel surcharge

With fuel prices dropping in the wake of an apparent agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, Porter Airlines says it is reducing its temporary surcharge for new reward flight bookings to $20.

ALBANIA MANIA: Transat flights a first from Canada

One of Europe’s emerging “it” destinations now has direct service from Canada courtesy of Transat, which officially inaugurated its new non-stop service between Toronto and Tirana late last week. The first flight (TS422) marked the launch of the first air link between Canada and Albania.

EMIRATES OFFERS ‘INDUSTRY FIRST’ INSURANCE COVERING CONFLICTS

In response to recent global airspace disruptions, rising jet fuel costs, and heightened travel uncertainty amid the U.S.-Iran conflict, Emirates has introduced Comprehensive Travel Cover, a product the company says is an industry-first travel insurance offering broad, multi-risk protection for travellers throughout their journey.

AIR CANADA PUBLISHES ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

Air Canada has published its Accessibility Plan 2026-29, outlining the airline’s progress since its inaugural 2023 plan along with its future-focused three-year plan to continually reduce barriers in travel and employment for persons with disabilities.

PORTER DOUBLE DIPS IN TURKS AND CAICOS

Porter Airlines is adding another destination to its sun network with service to Providenciales (PLS), Turks and Caicos. The new non-stop flights are available from Toronto Pearson five times weekly, beginning Nov. 6, and Ottawa twice weekly, beginning Dec. 17.  

AIR CANADA ANNOUNCES DEAL WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEES

Air Canada announced its customer service employees ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement with Unifor applies to about 6,000 employees across contact centres, customer relations, concierges and other business segments. 

IBERIA TOUCHES DOWN TORONTO ROUTE

Spanish carrier Iberia officially launched its new direct route between Toronto and Madrid on Saturday. The new route will operate five times per week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – and offer more than 37,000 seats during the summer season.

CUBA, JET FUEL TAKE TOLL ON TRANSAT

Soaring fuel prices and a halt of all of its flights to Cuba pushed Transat A.T. Inc. earnings deep into loss territory last quarter, as global strife continues to damage airlines’ bottom lines.

AIRLINE PROFITS ‘COULDN’T BUY A HOT DOG’ AT FIFA GAMES

IATA’s latest financial outlook for the global airline industry shows a halving of profitability as a result of war-related Middle East disruptions and high fuel prices – so much so that carrier per passenger profits wouldn’t even cover the cost of a hot dog at a FIFA World Cup game, says the association’s boss.

THE BUCK STOPS IN YYC: WestJet, Calgary Tourism launch stopover program

Every year, more than seven million international travellers connect through Calgary without ever leaving the airport. Tourism Calgary and WestJet hope to change that. On Wednesday, the two organizations launched the Calgary Stopover Program, giving travellers on eligible WestJet routes the opportunity to add a Calgary visit.

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. 

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.

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.

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).

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