Aviation

WESTJET, FIJI AIRWAYS SIGN CODESHARE

WestJet has signed a new codeshare deal with Fiji Airways, a move that will make it easier for travellers to head to the South Pacific. The agreement will allow guests to travel across both airlines’ networks under a single booking.

AIR INDIA SLASHES FLIGHTS TO CANADA: Blames soaring jet fuel prices

Air India has slashed its flight schedule due to soaring jet fuel prices, leaving Canadian residents hoping to visit the subcontinent with fewer options and higher fares. In an internal message to staff CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline has cut flight volumes for April and May, with plans for more schedule trims in June and July.

MORE PLANES TO SPAIN: Air Transat to launch winter Canaries route

Air Transat has announced the addition of a new destination to its winter 2026-27 program: Spain’s Canary Islands from both Montreal and Toronto. The seasonal flights to Las Palmas (LPA) will start Dec. 12, continuing weekly through April 4, 2027, with Saturday departures from Montreal and Sunday departures from Toronto.

SUMMERTIME BLUES: Air Canada cuts some U.S. flights due to jet fuel costs

Air Canada says it’s cutting the number of flights to the United States this summer as the war in Iran creates jet fuel shortages that have sent prices soaring. The airline said in a statement that flights from Toronto to Sacramento, Calif., will cease Aug. 1, and service to Charleston, S.C., will end Sept. 6.

THE JET FUEL SQUEEZE: What to know if your flight is cancelled

Airlines in Canada and worldwide are cancelling flights as the war in the Middle East strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up prices – but the disruption doesn’t end there. For travellers, it can mean having to navigate a confusing web of passenger protections that vary widely depending on where they’re flying.

AIR CANADA HONOURS MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMEN

Air Canada marked the observance of Red Dress Day in Canada this week (May 5) by sharing a video created to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit peoples (MMIWG2S+).

PORTER TAKES PROACTIVE APPROACH TO FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

Porter Airlines has partnered with HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) to introduce a new product that gives passengers more flexibility with day-of-departure flight disruptions. Available as an optional add-on, the Delay and Cancellation Assistance product offers passengers real-time solutions if their flight is disrupted by more than two hours or cancelled within 24 hours of departure.

MORE CHINA FLIGHTS GOOD FOR TOURISM

Ottawa has announced an increase in the number of direct flights permitted to bring passengers and cargo to and from China. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says there will be “an incremental increase” in flights between the countries in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s outreach visit to Beijing in January.

HAPPY DAYS: Finnair returns to Canada after 11 years

By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Finnair celebrated the inauguration of a new direct flight from Toronto to Helsinki on Monday (May 4) with the arrival of Finnair flight AY 31 to a traditional water salute at Pearson airport in the early evening. The service marks a return of Finland’s national carrier to Canada after an 11-year absence.

TRANSAT LAUNCHES SUN PACKAGES WITH PORTER: Enhances southern sun options

Transat and Porter Airlines are taking another step forward in their commercial partnership by launching new Transat packages that combine Porter non-stop flights to Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.  Packages feature a curated selection of hotels in each destination, with a mix of all-inclusive and European Plan offerings depending on the property.

AIR CANADA FLIGHT OPS WORKERS RATIFY CONTRACT

Air Canada reports that its Flight Operations Crew Schedulers and its In-Flight Crew Schedulers have approved a new collective agreement between the airline and the Unifor union. The four-year collective agreements are in effect until May 22, 2029.

WESTJET FLIGHT ATTENDANTS FILE NOTICE OF DISPUTE

Flight Attendants at WestJet, represented by CUPE 8125, have issued a formal notice of dispute following more than seven months of ongoing negotiations that the union says has not produced sufficient progress on key issues.

PASSENGERS PICK WORLD’S BEST AIRPORTS

Airports Council Int. (ACI) World, trade association of world airports, in partnership with SITA, recently announced the winners of this year’s ASQ Airport Experience Awards – considered the benchmark for excellence in airport customer experience as determined exclusively by passengers. This year three Canadian airports made the prestigious list.

UNPAID WORK STILL RANKLES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

Eight months into Ottawa’s investigation into flight attendants’ allegations that they’re forced to do unpaid work, the union is raising concerns that it won’t result in any change.

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.

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