Air Canada says it’s seeing strong momentum in bookings for this year largely based on the introduction of new markets – both domestic and international – that are mitigating the impact of reduced Canada-U.S. demand.
Air Transat says it’s cancelling its U.S. flights for the 2026 summer season as it looks to better manage its resources. A spokeswoman for the airline says flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida will start gradually winding down in the spring.
Porter Airlines reports it has achieved a significant operational milestone with registration in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program.
Air travel continues to grow, yet is constrained by two key problems, says IATA, which released its 2025 passenger market performance results showing 5.3% growth – 7.1% international, 2.4% domestic – over 2024. Load factors were 83.6%.
Canadians in Cuba are waiting for flights home after the suspension of service by all three major Canadian airlines as an energy crisis worsens in the nation amid a U.S. oil blockade. Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat each said on Monday that they were cancelling flights to Cuba, citing a shortage of aviation fuel.
WestJet is expanding its domestic network with new non-stop summer service between Calgary (YYC) and Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (YAM), North Bay, Ont. (YYB) and Campbell River, B.C. (YBL). The airline is also adding non-stop seasonal service between Terrace, B.C. (YXT) and Edmonton (YEG), strengthening domestic connectivity within Western Canada.
Flair Airlines has named Len Corrado as Chief Executive Officer. Effective Feb. 9, the former president of Sunwing Airlines replaces Maciej Wilk as part of planned transition at the company.
Porter Airlines inaugurated nonstop flights between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday, marking the airline’s first Caribbean service from Montreal. The winter seasonal service will operate up to three times weekly and complement existing service from Toronto Pearson and Ottawa.
Air Transat has announced plans to start a new loyalty program with Desjardins Group and Visa. The launch, planned for the second half of this year, will offer travellers exclusive benefits and an improved experience, the airline said.
In the wake of a backlash sparked by a viral video, WestJet says it will scrap a new seat configuration that squeezed an extra row on board many of its planes and left passengers with less legroom – and the airline with a budding customer exodus.
Flair Airlines is revamping its ultra-low-cost brand in a bid to attract more business travellers, despite a lack of frills on board – and will court travel advisor networks to do so. Company CEO Maciej Wilk says Flair is attempting a strategic shift away from a pure-play budget airline and toward what he dubbed a “value carrier.”
Air Canada is set to launch a third weekly flight to Grenada next Thursday (Jan. 22). Operating seasonally through April 23, the additional frequency reflects strong demand from this country and Canada’s status as one of Grenada’s fastest-growing source markets.
Air Inuit has a new aircraft that promises to deliver better service to Nunavik says CEO and president Christian Busch. The Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft went into service Tuesday on the airline’s Montreal-Kuujjuaq route.
With new members Fiji Airways, Oman Air and future member Hawaiian Airlines adding options across the Pacific, Asia and Arabian Peninsula, oneworld says its Round the World options are more extensive than ever.
Hawaii’s airports are slated to get a fresh look as part of Hawaiian Airlines’ newly announced investment plan of more than US$600 million over the next five years, designed to comprehensively enhance the experience for guests travelling to, from, and within the islands.
Last November, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech stepped onto a plane bound for Toronto along with five other executives, the chairman of the board and several union representatives to try out the airline’s new compacted seating at the back of the cabin.
An excuse to have another beer or glass of wine when flying? A new study emanating from south of the border warns travellers not to drink tea, coffee, or unbottled water on flights, load up on ice, or even clean their hands in washrooms, due to potentially unhealthy water used on board many aircraft.
Air Transat pilots have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year employment contract, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). Of the 98% of 750 eligible pilots who cast ballots, 91% voted in favour of the deal, negotiated in December, which offered a wage hike of more than 50% on average over five years.
Aeromexico maintained a 90.02% on-time performance to claim the world’s most on-time global airline title for the second consecutive year, according to Cirium’s 2025 On-Time Performance Review, released on Jan. 2.
Dreams Take Flight, Air Canada and The Air Canada Foundation celebrated another successful year of heartfelt journeys to theme parks in Florida and California. This year, more than a thousand children across Canada got to experience a day full of rides, magic and laughter.
London Heathrow (LHR) has retained its title as the world’s most connected airport for the third consecutive year in 2025, offering over 59,000 possible connections to 226 destinations on the busiest day. Two Canadian airports made the annual top 50 ‘Megahubs’ list by global aviation data platform leader OAG: Toronto Pearson at 26, and Vancouver, 46.
As 2025 comes to a close, WestJet has revealed a list of some of its quirkiest and most critical stats of the year – such as the most-watched movies at 35,000 feet and whether guests consumed more cookies or pretzels.
Panic erupts in the McCallister household as soon as the day begins. The parents’ alarm clock never rings, bags and coats spill across the floor, and the family barrels out the door to catch a flight to Florida in “Home Alone 2.” The pandemonium intensifies at the airport.
Direct flights from Canada to Albania? Credit Air Transat for tapping into the Balkan country’s growing reputation among savvy travellers as an up-and-coming travel destination that is off the mainstream track in Europe but not lacking in amenities or charm.
The head of Transat A.T. Inc. says fallout was “limited” from a strike threat by its pilots and that the company continues to benefit from Canadians’ turn away from U.S. travel, paving the runway for growth in the new year after the tour operator turned its first annual profit since 2018.
Air Transat pilots begin voting today (Dec. 19) on a tentative deal with the company that would see raises of well over 50%, boosting the salary for most senior pilots to nearly $388,000 a year by May 2029.
Concern about excessive alcohol consumption during travel remains strong, with a majority of travellers (57%) saying airlines and airport bars should exercise more control over alcohol service, according to the latest Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.
Transat A.T. Inc. has set March 10 for a shareholder meeting to vote on a board overhaul and other changes sought by Pierre Karl Péladeau, the travel company’s second-largest shareholder and the CEO of Quebecor Inc.
By Michael Baginski/ With 2025 coming to a close, Air Canada hosted a VIP industry gathering in Toronto late last week to say farewell to a successful year, as well as VP of global sales Lisa Pierce, who is retiring at the end of the month after a 40-year career with the company.
WestJet has paused a move to install non-reclining seats on a big slice of its fleet after pushback from employees and passengers. The airline announced in September it would reconfigure the seating on 43 Boeing 737 jets to install an extra row and divide the cabin into several tiers, some with more space – and pricier tickets – than others.