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.
Accompanied by key suppliers from New Zealand, the South Pacific country’s national carrier called in Toronto and Calgary this week as part of a North American mission designed to “harness everything New Zealand… and bring a touch of New Zealand” to the trade.
Citing strong financial results– including record annual revenue – Air Canada issued its 2023 Annual Report highlighting the carrier’s achievements for the year, including progress made on several key strategic initiatives.
Passengers at busy Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas can test self-screening at customs – a new system that US federal airport security officials are calling “a step into the future.”
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will step down from the embattled plane maker at the end of the year after a series of mishaps at one of America’s most storied manufacturers. Board Chair Larry Kellner has also told the company he doesn’t plan to stand for re-election in May. Boeing also said Monday that Stan Deal, president and CEO of its commercial airplanes unit, will retire immediately from the company.
By the simplest measurement, the answer to that question is ‘no’ but you would never know that by reading about the torrent of flight problems in the last three months. The last deadly crash involving a North American airliner (Colgan Air, which operated for Continental Express, United Express and US Air Express) occurred in February 2009 – 15 years ago – an unprecedented streak of safety, especially given there were 9.6 million flights in the US alone last year.
US Federal regulators are increasing their oversight of United Airlines following a series of recent issues including a piece of the outer fuselage falling off one jet, an engine fire and a plane losing a tire during takeoff.
In a decision hailed by an environmental group as a historic victory, an Amsterdam court has ruled that Dutch national airline KLM misled consumers in statements about sustainable aviation in a case that accused the carrier of “greenwashing.”
Conditions on federal loans to Transat A.T. Inc. mean the tour operator’s CEO lost out on nearly half a million dollars in compensation last year. A document prepared by the Montreal-based company for its shareholders shows that strings attached to $743 million in emergency loans from Ottawa during the pandemic deprived chief executive Annick Guérard of $489,500 in cash in 2023.
Canadians are not only polite, but also a punctual bunch, observe execs at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. With this in mind, the facility – a popular gateway for southern Ontarians heading to New York, Florida, and other points in the US – is eager to point out to travellers from north of the border that it has plenty of options and activities for those who arrive early at BUF before winging off to somewhere else.
Advocates and Air Canada served up opposing views of on-board accessibility for passengers in the House of Commons on Tuesday, though both sides agree that consistency remains a problem. Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau told the House transport committee that an overwhelming majority of the 1.3 million passengers who requested special assistance last year had a positive experience. About 1,950 – or 0.15% – filed complaints.
WestJet says it achieved an 11 percent reduction in its fuel emissions intensity in 2023, compared to (pre-pandemic) 2019, aligning with its ongoing commitment to responsible growth and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) goal for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Beleaguered Boeing is now telling airlines to inspect switches on pilots’ seats in its 787 Dreamliner jets after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a LATAM Airlines plane flying to New Zealand.
Air Transat is expanding its virtual interlining service with the addition of two new airline partners Pegasus Airlines and Volotea, bringing the total to 14 collaborating airlines and offering access to over 275 additional destinations worldwide.
The WestJet Group has named Diederik Pen as President of WestJet Airlines effective April 1. In adding the title to his current role Chief Operating Officer of the Group, Pen will continue to report to Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group’s Chief Executive Officer.
The federal government says it will host a summit on air accessibility in May amid what it calls “completely unacceptable” barriers to Canadians living with disabilities. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez says airlines have failed to meet the treatment standards that passengers with disabilities deserve, calling for more responsibility from the aviation sector.
The CEO of United Airlines says that a slew of recent incidents ranging from a panel that fell off a plane to another jet losing a wheel on takeoff will cause the airline to review its safety training for employees. In a memo to customers on Monday, Scott Kirby tried to reassure travellers that safety is the airline’s top priority.
More passengers who were aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet when part of its fuselage blew out in January are suing – including one who says his life was saved by a seat belt.
Another day, another problem for Boeing and United Airlines. On Friday, a post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company.
About 200 food service workers at Vancouver’s airport have voted to take strike action if their demands for pay increases in a first contract are not met. In a media release, Unite Here Local 40 said job action “could disrupt daily airport operations as the spring break and Easter weekend rush approaches.”
After entertaining new entrants for several years, Canada’s airline market is once again on the path to consolidation, raising the likelihood of higher fares and fewer flight options. Since May, newer low-cost carriers Swoop and Lynx Air have disappeared from the skies and WestJet has scooped up Sunwing Airlines.
Revenue increased by almost 18 percent, but overall profit declined for Transat in the first quarter, with the travel company citing the (now resolved) threat of strike by flight attendants, fierce competition, and supply chain challenges as factors contributing to a $61 million net loss. At the same time, record customer deposits for future travel (+14%) have been achieved.
Responding to a US government audit, Boeing said Tuesday that it would work with employees found to have violated company manufacturing procedures to make sure they understand instructions for their jobs.
Toronto Pearson has been named the “Best Airport over 40 million passengers in North America” for the sixth time in seven years by Airports Council International (ACI) – World, the global trade representative of the world’s airports. The airport regained the prestigious ranking in 2023 after achieving the honour for five consecutive years between 2017 and 2021, but missing in 2022.
As officials investigate what caused a “strong shake” before a sudden plunge on a plane traveling between Australia and New Zealand, a passenger on Tuesday described a wild ride, with people without seatbelts thrown from their seats and some crashing into the plane’s ceiling.
It’s California here we come (again) as Porter Airlines adds seasonal roundtrip flights on two new non-stop routes between Montreal and Los Angeles and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), creating further connections from eastern Canada to US west coast this summer.