AIRBUS STAYS HUMBLE AS BOEING FLOUNDERS
And there’s a reason for that
In the latest round of their decades-long battle for dominance in commercial aircraft, Europe’s Airbus established a clear sales lead over Boeing even before the American company encountered more fallout from manufacturing problems and ongoing safety concerns. MORE
WESTJET, MECHANICS UNION AGREE TO TENTATIVE DEAL
A potential strike between WestJet and its mechanics union appears to have been avoided. A statement from the Calgary-based airline Sunday night says a tentative deal between it and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has been agreed to. WestJet had issued a 72-hour lockout notice on Saturday to the union, saying it was response to AMFA announcing a strike vote. MORE
MSC Cruises – Exclusive Webinar Series
MSC Cruises Canada will conduct an exclusive webinar series tailored specifically for travel agents in Canada. The first session will take place May 9. Hosted by MSC business development managers Annie Archambault, Mokhtar Kerkeni, Tammy Thompson and Facinet Yansane, the webinars are designed to offer useful insights into the company while boosting agents' knowledge and sales skills. MORE
SUDBURY AIRPORT TAKES AIM AT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
A new awareness campaign will train staff at the Greater Sudbury Airport and educate travellers to recognize and respond to the signs of human trafficking. Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking, a local non-profit organization providing support to survivors and public education about one of the country’s fastest-growing crimes, will launch a campaign entitled Spot the Signs, Break the Chains on May 12. MORE
HAWAII HELPS CONNECT VISITORS TO VOLUNTOURISM
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) has partnered with Kanu Hawai‘i to make it easier for visitors to search and sign up for enriching volunteer opportunities throughout the state. Travellers planning their trips in the Hawaiian Islands can now access the Mālama Hawai‘i Volunteer Dashboard at GoHawaii.com/malama, the state’s official website for visitors. MORE
As more people reconsider how they travel on a warming planet, a small but growing contingent in Europe wants to switch from high-emission, short-haul planes to more climate-friendly sleeper trains. But for all the climate benefits – plus the enduring romance of overnight train journeys – it’s not always simple building a vacation around them. MORE
The World Food Travel Association (WFTA), the world's leading authority on food and beverage tourism, has released its "2024 State of the Industry – Food & Beverage Tourism" report, which is available as a free download. The report is the WFTA's annual bellwether assessment and analysis of the food and beverage tourism industry (also known as culinary tourism or gastronomy tourism). MORE
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AT IPW
Los Angeles welcomes the world at ‘watershed’ moment
IPW kicked off on the weekend with Los Angeles welcoming 5,700 delegates at the California city’s latest incarnation of US Travel’s largest inbound travel show, though first in 12 years. A delegation of over 100 Canadian trade and media (including Travel Industry Today) began trickling in late last week for weekend events and Saturday’s opening night gala at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. MORE
WESTJET SCHEDULES COULD BE REDUCED
Issues 72-hour lockout notice to mechanics union
WestJet has issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the union representing its mechanics, and warns a work stoppage could happen as early as Tuesday. The Calgary-based airline says in a statement that the decision follows an announcement of a strike vote by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents approximately 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and skilled trade groups with the carrier. MORE
A UNITED VISION FOR NATURE
Tourism organizations launch ‘historic’ nature-positive partnership
The leading players of Travel & Tourism globally have published a landmark joint report setting out their joint plan to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The project marks a new collaborative era in the sector says the partner, which launched "Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action" in April in conjunction with Earth Month. MORE
SOUTHWEST WANTS LESS QUIRK, MORE CASH
Southwest Airlines is studying changes to its quirky boarding and seating policies as it searches for ways to raise more revenue. Airline officials say they are studying possible changes but won’t have anything to announce until September. That tease is leading to speculation about whether Southwest might ditch some longstanding traditions, including the practice of passengers picking their own seats only after they board a plane. MORE
CATALONIA WEIGHS WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR TOURISTS
As jurisdictions like Venice increasingly look to regulate visitors to help solve local problems, Spain’s drought-stricken Catalonia is considering imposing water restrictions on tourists in the driest parts of the region if domestic consumption is not curtailed. The restriction of 100 litres per tourist per day for hotels would go into effect if a municipality fails to keep domestic water use by residents below established limits for three consecutive months under the current “drought emergency” for the northeastern region. MORE
NO BIGGER CELEBRATION
Madonna transforms Rio’s Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans. It was the last show of The Celebration Tour, her first retrospective, which kicked off in October in London. MORE
Air Canada dropped new seat selection fees (for now), ACTA opened nominations for its annual awards and Dubai announced it is planning a $35-billion airport and urban growth project. In other round-up from last week, food service workers went back to work at Pearson, but Transat flight dispatchers voted for a strike mandate. Meanwhile, travel advisors received the seal of approval from CLIA for their outsized influence in cruise bookings. MORE