Less than a week before the end of conciliation, WestJet pilots sent “a strong message” to WestJet management with an overwhelming vote of support for a strike, should a negotiated settlement not be reached by May 16.
Southwest Airlines planes were briefly grounded nationwide in the US Tuesday for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, leading to more than 1,800 delayed flights just four months after the carrier suffered a much bigger meltdown over the Christmas travel rush.
A French court on Monday acquitted Airbus and Air France of manslaughter charges over the 2009 crash of Flight 447 from Rio to Paris, which killed 228 people and led to lasting changes in aircraft safety measures.
The CEO of WestJet Airlines says his company is asking the federal government to allow airlines to recover passenger compensation costs from other industry partners, if they played a role in causing flight delays or disruptions.
Airlines in the US have reported fewer cases of unruly passengers since last April, when a federal judge struck down a requirement that people wear masks on planes and public transportation. Before that ruling, about two-thirds of all incidents on planes involved disputes over masks.
Air Canada has announced new, non-stop flights from Vancouver International Airport to Dubai. The new route will operate four times weekly beginning Oct. 28 using Air Canada’s Dreamliner fleet.
In a State of the Airline address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce this week, WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech provided a comprehensive update of progress on its new strategic direction, including the airline’s plans in both east and western Canada, fleet renewal and new routes, and, of course, it’s takeover of Sunwing.
A new Sunwing survey of Canadian travellers says seven-in-10 (71%) respondents’ fondest vacation or travel memory was from a past or recent vacation as an adult – an overwhelming margin over holidays taken as a child or teen.
Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight returned to the skies yesterday for the first time since 2020 to take a plane load of disadvantaged children from Winnipeg to Florida for the trip of a lifetime, including a day at an Orlando theme park.
Air Canada executive vice-president and chief financial officer Amos Kazzaz is retiring at the end of June, to be replaced by John Di Bert, who is the current CFO of Clarios International and has been CFO at Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney.
Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan’s compensation nearly doubled last year to US$5.3 million after being promoted to the top job during a year that ended with massive flight cancellations that will cost Southwest more than $1 billion.
Emirates is stepping up its frequency between Canada and the United Arab Emirates with two additional flights per week between Dubai and Toronto. The move to daily service, starting April 20, follows the announcement last week of an expanded air transport agreement between the two countries.
Citing New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology’s ability to create new retailing opportunities for airlines around the world, Air Canada and Amadeus say that an expansion of their long-standing partnership will allow travel sellers to benefit from a long-term roadmap that offers additional features and new content.
Environmental organizations are calling the decision by a judge against a Dutch government plan to require Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000 “a slap in the face” and a blow against cutting emissions and noise pollution.
Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced the conclusion of an expanded air transport agreement that allows 21 flights per week for each country – 50 percent more flights than the maximum number previously possible.
Canada Jetlines has pressed pause on its domestic routes as the upstart airline refocuses on sun destinations and leasing its planes, but says it plans to resume in-country flights come fall.
El Al Israel Airlines would like to return to Canada, but there is “no date circled on the calendar” for that to happen, admits the carrier’s Sr. VP Sales for North America.
Condé Nast recognition, a new member advisory board, and a new app feature designed to facilitate “blind travel dating” for solo travellers highlight this week’s round-up.
Expressing frustration after six months of failed negotiations, the union representing WestJet pilots says it expects to launch a strike authorization vote today (Monday) as contract talks with management drag on. If successful, pilots would be in a position to strike by the long weekend in May.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the US re-introduced legislation last week that would create a no-fly list for passengers who are fined or convicted of disruptive or violent behaviour on board an aircraft. In 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration received nearly 2,500 reports of unruly passengers.
The federal government has firmly put air travel on its radar after laying out plans in last week’s budget to speed up airport security screening and reduce flight delays, but observers say there is still much to do to the sector’s problems.
Flair Airlines said this week that it has reimbursed almost all 1,900 passengers whose flights were cancelled after the seizure of four of the carrier’s planes earlier this month, but some customers say they are owed more money – while others say no refunds have come through at all.
Porter Airlines has launched three new routes between Ottawa International Airport and Boston, New York-Newark and Thunder Bay, providing new travel links for the region.
Wonder, Natural, Magical, Dream, Inspire, Breathe, and Peaceful. Aiming to inspire our passengers, all of Azores Airlines A321neo and A320 aircraft have been designed to emotionally appeal to our magical destinations. The words inscribed on the fuselage refer to the magical, wonderful and peaceful universe of the Azores. “Breathe”, “Wonder”, “Magical” and “Inspire” reflect the symbolic homage to the Azores, which is, simultaneously, the cradle of Grupo SATA companies and our destiny by Nature.
Visitors to New York arriving at LaGuardia will have to continue using buses and car services for the foreseeable future after plans for a rail link from the airport to the city’s subway and commuter rail system were abandoned.
Budget airline Lynx Air announced it is launching two new routes for the summer. The Calgary-based airline says it will offer seasonal summer flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Kelowna International Airport starting April 13, and between Hamilton’s John C. Munroe International Airport and Vancouver International Airport starting April 16.
Singapore Changi has reclaimed its spot as the world’s top airport in the prestigious annual “Passengers’ Choice Award” rankings by Skytrax. Vancouver rated a respectable 20th on the top 100 list, moving up eight spots from 2022.
WestJet debuted new technology this week to reduce drag on its aircraft, thereby saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions. The Calgary-based carrier is the first in Canada and second in the world to use the drag reduction kit.
The number of air passenger complaints to Canada’s transport regulator has more than tripled over the past year, soaring past 42,000 as of this month. The ballooning backlog means each case now needs more than a year and a half to handle, spurring advocates and politicians to question the efficacy of the process, even as hiring and funding ramp up.
Heathrow Airport says it has contingency plans to remain open and operational if security workers walk off the job on March 31 as planned. The strike action – scheduled to take place at Terminal Five over the busy Easter Break – will last 10 days through Easter Sunday on April 9.