Aviation

FUEL DUMP: Air Canada suspends six routes, including JFK service

Air Canada will suspend service to New York’s JFK International airport from Toronto and Montreal over the summer as the war in Iran creates jet fuel shortages that have sent prices soaring. It will, however, continue to offer 34 flights a day to LaGuardia and Newark from six Canadian cities.

TRANSAT UNVEILS NEW WINTER WAVE: New flights, expanded service, and a return to Florida

Air Transat has begun unveiling its 2026-27 winter program with its “first wave” of announcements that include four new routes from four different Canadian gateways; the expansion of two of its flagship routes – Toronto-Paris and Montreal-Barcelona – to year-round service; and the return of Florida flights after a summer pause.

AIR CANADA REVEALS DESIGN FUTURE

Air Canada raised the curtain on its new long-haul cabin designs at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, this week. The first major expression of its new ‘Glowing Hearted’ standard design aims to deliver a distinctly Canadian experience, and is the culmination of what the company says its “most significant” cabin investment.“This investment is about fundamentally redefining the experience of flying with Air Canada. From the moment of stepping on board, we’re setting a new standard for how Canadians and the world connect with our brand,” said Mark Nasr, Executive VP & Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.

COVID STILL COSTING AIR CANADA: Airline ordered to pay pilots denied vaccination exemptions

An arbitrator has ordered Air Canada to grant back pay to seven pilots denied religious exemptions from the airline’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. The decision states that Air Canada violated the Canadian Human Rights Act when it placed the pilots on unpaid leave because they failed to meet the company’s bar for “sincere religious belief,” while other pilots who cleared it received more than six months of paid leave.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT: Canada needs more air traffic controllers

Canada is short an estimated 200 air traffic controllers, but and is working on building its capacity, says Nav Canada, the privately run, non-profit corporation that is responsible for training and employing the specialized workers who play a critical role in the safety of Canada’s air travel system.

WESTJET LAUNCHES DIRECT INTERLINE BOOKING OPTION

WestJet guests now have the ability to book interline itineraries comprised of both WestJet and interline partner segments through the airline’s website and contact centre. The “significant enhancement” for bookings is “in addition to existing options through our travel trade partners,” says the airline.

‘IT ONLY TAKES ONE’: Runway incidents on the rise in Canada

The number of safety incidents on Canadian runways is on the rise, having reached new highs in recent years even as the tally of extremely close calls seems to be levelling off. Data from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada shows that so-called runway incursions – when a plane, vehicle or person winds up on or near a runway when they shouldn’t be – hit a record 639 in 2024, the latest full year for which the watchdog has statistics.

‘PURE SURVIVAL’: Skyrocketing fuel costs prompt WestJet changes

WestJet says it will be introducing a temporary $60 surcharge for certain bookings and has consolidated numerous flights due to skyrocketing fuel prices. The moves come as some U.S. carriers have also announced higher checked baggage fees to cover the increasing fuel costs.

CANARY ISLANDS HIGHLIGHT NEW AIR CANADA SUN ROUTES

Air Canada will fly to several new destinations for the Winter 2026-27 season, including the only non-stop flights from North America to Tenerife in the Canary Islands (beginning Oct. 25 and 31 respectively from Toronto and Montreal). The flights will operate seasonally.

BARE NECESSITIES: WestJet warns pax to keep piggies covered

With warm weather on the horizon, WestJet says it is underlining its in-flight footwear expectations and putting a ban on bare feet. Guests are required to keep shoes, socks, slippers or other forms of foot coverage on at all times, including during takeoff, landing. and while moving about the cabin, warns the airline.

HERE COMES THE SUN: Sunwing releases summer schedule

Sunwing Vacations has released its 2026 summer schedule, featuring flight options from key gateways across Canada to a wide range of popular sun destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. including Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Punta Cana, Montego Bay and more.

PORTER EXPANDS ROUTES AT MET: Introduces fuel surcharges

Porter Airlines has announced plans to offer flights on a dozen routes from the revitalized Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET). The airline says flights to and from the airport in Longueuil, Que., on Montreal’s south shore will begin on June 15.

YVR FLYING HIGH IN SKYTRAX: Singapore named world’s best airport 14 years running

Singapore Changi Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport 2026 – again – in the prestigious World Airport Awards, held last week in London. Notably, Vancouver was named the best airport in the world of its size (20-30 million passengers) and 10th overall (all sizes) in the Awards’ pre-eminent best-overall category, leading a trio Canadian airport rankings in the top 100.

AIRFARES RISING, TRAVELLERS DON’T CARE

Major U.S. airlines say they are not expecting a significant dent in quarterly profits despite soaring jet fuel costs tied to the war in the Middle East adding hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses. That because strong ticket sales are helping offset those higher costs, executives from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines told investors this week, with all three carriers reporting record bookings this year.

PASSENGER DEMAND TO DOUBLE, SAYS IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its Long-Term Demand Projections (LTDP) for air travel, showing that global air passenger demand is expected to more than double by 2050.

HERE COME THE FUEL SURCHARGES: Fasten your seatbelt and loosen your wallet

With jet fuel prices rising above $100 as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies, the cost pressure on airlines intensifies as the summer travel season approaches. Experts say it’s not a question of if airfares will go up, but when, for how long and by how much. The impact may be felt most on long-haul international routes, which burn significantly more fuel than shorter flights.

AIR CANADA ADDS MORE YYZ LANDLINE OPTIONS

Starting June 15, the Ontario communities of Niagara, Sarnia and Muskoka will be linked directly to Toronto Pearson International Airport thanks to extended Air Canada Landline luxury motorcoach service.

UP, UP AND AWAY: Surging oil prices spur rising airfares

Airlines across the globe have started to hike fares and fuel surcharges in response surging oil prices sparked by the war in Iran, and Canada is no exception. Several carriers indicated this week that higher ticket prices are likely – or already a reality – thanks to cost pressures caused by fallout from the conflict, which entered its 12th day on Wednesday.

AA GETS APPROVAL TO RESUME VENEZUELA FLIGHTS

American Airlines has received approval to become the first U.S. airline to resume flights to Venezuela. Even though the State Department continues to warn Americans not to travel to the South American country, the government cleared the way for the airline to begin scheduling flights there.

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