Airlines

Air Canada gets Four-Star ranking

Air Canada has become the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. The much-coveted rating is considered an airline industry benchmark and is based on detailed, independently conducted quality analysis by Skytrax across more than 800 different areas of airport and onboard product and service delivery. "I am very pleased that Air Canada has become the only international network carrier to have achieved this significant industry benchmark,"said Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive officer....

Etihad shows profit for second year running

Etihad Airways was profitable again in 2012. The airline's president and chief executive, James Hogan, made the announcement during his keynote address at the Global Airfinance Conference in Dublin. The 2012 result follows Etihad Airways' maiden profit in 2011 of US$14 million. During his speech to more than 1,000 delegates in the Irish capital, Hogan added that more details of the airline's financial results would be released next month. The 15th Annual Global Airfinance Conference includes delegates from the world's largest airlines, leasing companies, commercial banks, export credit...

Emirates takes Dubai’s Expo bid to the skies

Emirates is putting the full force of its A380 fleet behind Dubai's bid to land the 2020 World Expo. The airline is attaching giant stickers to its A380 fleet, promoting the UAE's bid to hold the event in Dubai in seven years time. The first aircraft to be dressed with the words "Expo 2020, Dubai UAE, Candidate City"was EK 306, which left for Beijing in the early hours of Jan. 17. In the coming weeks, the airline's entire A380 fleet - currently standing at 31 - will carry the Expo 2020 message. World Expo, staged every five years and last held in Shanghai, attracts millions of visitors. This...

Porter Escapes gets Hip

Porter Escapes is offering "Very Hip Escapes"packages for Canada's The Tragically Hip. Packages are limited and include roundtrip airfare for two from any Porter destination to Toronto for a Valentine's Day concert on Feb. 14. Clients also receive accommodations at a Porter Escapes hotel partner, Tragically Hip photo and a Steam Whistle brewery tour. Prices start at $406 p.p. for a two-night stay, and vary based on departure city and flight chosen. Porter Escapes packages are built around Porter Airlines destinations, combining flights and hotel accommodations with unique experiences....

Flex, a new name for AC’s Tango Plus

Air Canada has announced that Flex is the new name for its Tango Plus fare category. "Whether you're flying for business or leisure, our fares are designed to offer you the flexibility and value to suit all your travel needs,"says Air Canada. Flex highlights the flexibility and economy value of this fare option, which includes same-day changes for a small fee, advance seat selection, Aeroplan and Altitude Qualifying Miles, as well as the ability use e-upgrades and more. The airline will continue to use other existing names such as Tango, its cheapest fare class, and Latitude and Executive for...

FAA temporarily grounds 787

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that as a result of an in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident in Japan, the FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations. Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe. The FAA also said that it will work with the manufacturer and carriers to develop a corrective action plan to allow the US 787 fleet to resume...

November traffic results show improvement: IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released traffic results for November 2012, showing an improvement in both passenger and air freight demand. Air travel was 4.6% higher compared to November 2011, up on the October result of 2.9%. Air freight volumes edged up 1.6% over the same period after declining 2.6% in October, year to year. Passenger capacity rose 3.2% and load factor improved one percentage point to 77.3% compared to the year-ago period. "November brought some positive signs for air transport demand -- particularly for air cargo. It is premature to consider this a...

Icelandair adds flights from Halifax

Icelandair will resume seasonal service from Halifax starting June 1 and has announced six additional flights through Nov. 4. The additional three weeks of service from Nova Scotia will be a part of Icelandair's 2013 expanded network and offer more options and greater frequency when travelling to Europe from Canada. This year, Icelandair will celebrate 76 years of aviation with new destinations (Zurich, Switzerland and St. Petersburg, Russia) and daily service to the U.K., including regular flights to London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Glasgow. Icelandair allows passengers to stopover in...