Aviation

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With rising travel costs and some airlines introducing surge pricing policies on checked baggage, plus new paid seat options, Corporate Traveller Canada’s latest poll paints a vivid picture of the strains facing Canadian business travellers today.

With little fanfare, Air Canada has resumed service between Canada and Israel following a six-month pause. The airline says flights between Toronto and Tel Aviv resumed April 9, and a once-weekly flight between Montreal and Tel Aviv will resume in May.

An Australian court has rejected a case brought by five women seeking compensation from Qatar Airways over invasive gynecological examinations conducted on passengers at Doha’s airport in 2020, but their case against the airport’s operator is going ahead.

The Oakland International Airport has voted to add “San Francisco” to its name to attract more passengers, but its neighbours across the Bay have slammed the  rebrand. Oakland airport officials say travellers unfamiliar with the region fly into San Francisco’s airport even if their destination is closer to the East Bay airport. Modifying the name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport will change that, they say. The airport’s three-letter code OAK would not change.

Strong demand heading into the summer-vacation season is an indication that travellers seem unfazed by recent incidents in the industry that ranged from a panel blowing off a jetliner midflight flight to a tire falling off another plane during takeoff, according to the head of Delta Airlines.

A strike by over 800 workers at a catering company could mean no food and beverages on many flights out of Toronto Pearson Airport this month. The job action could begin as early as April 16, according to Teamsters Local Union 647.

When Boeing boss David Calhoun steps down at the end of the year, he’ll be forgoing compensation that in 2023 was valued at US$33 million. Admittedly the figure – nearly all of it in stock awards – will be cut by nearly a fourth in 2024, but will still total approximately $25 million.

Drink it or bin it: That phrase should have become history this summer at all UK airports.

WestJet has announced additions to its Winnipeg network, featuring new year-round, daily service to Montreal, as well as increased, daily, year-round service to Ottawa, beginning June 3. The airline also announced new seasonal service between Winnipeg and Nashville, set to take off on Sept. 16.

A Southwest Airlines jet returned to Denver Sunday morning after the engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Boeing 737 landed safely, and the passengers headed to Houston were being put onto another aircraft, Southwest Airlines said in a statement.

The authority overseeing the Montreal airport plans to spend nearly $4 billion in a bid to reduce congestion and ramp up capacity at the country’s second-biggest flight hub. The announcement comes after rising passenger volumes and surging car traffic last summer prompted a wave of frustration among travellers trying to make their planes on time.

Air Canada’s inaugural Singapore flight (from Vancouver) – which landed Thursday morning – is the airline’s longest flight measured by distance (12,818 km) with a flying time of up to 16 hours and five minutes.

Pilots at WestJet regional carrier Encore have voted 97 percent in favour of strike authorization after contract talks around pay and career progression came to a “near standstill,” says the Air Line Pilots Association. A strike could commence as soon as April 17.

Upstart airline BermudAir, which began flying to the US from Bermuda last September, has announced it will add Toronto and Halifax to its growing list of gateways (now seven) starting in May. Starting May 17, the airline will begin operations between Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) and Toronto Pearson (Tues-Fri-Sunday), with flights to Halifax Stanfield (Sat.) commencing on May 25.

United Airlines is asking its pilots to take time off in May because of delays in receiving new planes that the airline ordered from Boeing, which is struggling with production due to manufacturing problems.

American Airlines is relaxing part of its pet policy to let owners bring their companion and a full-size carry-on bag into the cabin. Until last week, people who carried a pet into the cabin – which involves paying a $150 fee – could only have one other small item that fit under the seat.

As the aviation industry grapples with a shortage of pilots, United has opened a new, 14,000-sq.-m. building at its Flight Training Center in Denver – already the largest facility of its kind in the world – that has the potential to trains 240 more aviators per day. The new building gives the airline the capability to add 12 more advanced full-motion flight simulators to the facility, six of which have already been delivered.