Airline News & Updates | Canada's Airline Industry

By Bob Mowat

December 5, 2012

Results Needed

IATA is calling on the European Commission, EU member states and Europe's Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to ensure that Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) are delivering real results. The call came on the deadline date for European states to set up agreements grouping Europe's 27 ANSPs into 9 FABs as a critical step towards creating the Single European Sky (SES). Tony Tyler, IATA's director general and CEO, said: "Whilst the FAB agreements are mostly in place, there are no signs of real consolidation or efficiencies of scale. EU member states have paid lip-service to European...

By TravelPress Staff

December 5, 2012

Sunwing clarifies Mexican regulations regarding minors

Sunwing Airlines has issued a report to clarify that currently there are no restrictions prohibiting unaccompanied minors (under 18 years of age) from travelling to Mexico. Reported changes to Mexican government regulations recently caused confusion in the marketplace and Canadian media reports indicated that some Canadian travellers were denied boarding by at least one other Canadian air carrier. "Sunwing has not refused travel to any minors and will continue with its policy to adhere to the current Mexican government regulations. These currently do not bar minors from travelling to Mexico...

By TravelPress Staff

December 5, 2012

Philippine Airlines now serving Toronto

Philippine Airlines has begun three-times-a-week Manila-Toronto service, with the frequency to be upgraded to four times a week in mid-January and daily in March. And tourism officials hope that the carrier's now serving both Vancouver and the Ontario capital will help the Philippines attract more Canadians to their country, raising the possibility of reopening a tourism office in this country. The Philippines had a Toronto tourism office, but closed it several years ago. "We will seriously look at opening an office here in Toronto,"Benito Bengzon, the country's assistant secretary,...

By TravelPress Staff

December 4, 2012

Etihad launches ‘Etihad Wi-Fly’ connectivity

Etihad Airways has launched its new "Etihad Wi-Fly"inflight Internet and mobile connectivity service, powered by the Panasonic Avionics Global Communications Suite. The airline's first aircraft equipped with Panasonic's communications technology, an Airbus A330-200, took flight today (Dec. 3) for Brussels, offering high-speed broadband Internet connectivity as well as data and mobile phone services. The A330-200 will be used for long-haul destinations across Etihad Airways' network, such as Brussels, Dublin, Manchester, Munich, Frankfurt and Milan. Etihad president James Hogan noted that,...

By TravelPress Staff

December 3, 2012

Shenzhen joins Star Alliance

Shenzhen Airlines is the latest carrier to join the Star Alliance network. At a ceremony held at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Mark Schwab, CEO Star Alliance, welcomed the airline into the family on behalf on the Alliance's Chief Executive Board (CEB). "Shenzhen Airlines is China's fifth largest carrier and strengthens the Star Alliance presence in China and across Asia. Our customers now benefit from improved access throughout the economically important Pearl River Delta and across southern China. Shenzhen Airlines at the same time gains access to a global network with enhanced...

By Bob Mowat

November 30, 2012

Rovinescu takes on top Star Alliance job

Air Canada's president and CEO, Calin Rovinescu has been elected as the new chairman of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB), succeeding Rob Fyfe, CEO Air New Zealand, who has held the post for the last two years. In taking on his new role, Rovinescu said: "On behalf of all Star Alliance members I thank Rob for his personal commitment, support and leadership in driving our alliance forward and in strengthening relations between the alliance partners. Indeed, we have all benefited from Rob's presence as chairman of the CEB. Following a highly successful seven-year tenure as CEO of Air...

By Bob Mowat

November 30, 2012

AC, Turkish Airlines sign codeshare deal

Air Canada and Turkish Airlines have signed a reciprocal code sharing agreement that take effect at the beginning of the second quarter of 2013 and will leverage Air Canada's planned Toronto-Istanbul route launching this summer pending receipt of government approval. Calin Rovinescu, president and Chief Executive of Air Canada, who signed a letter of intent for the agreement at ceremony during a Star Alliance chief executive meeting in Shenzhen, China this week, commented, "Air Canada is delighted by this code share agreement with our Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines as it will ensure...

By TravelPress Staff

November 30, 2012

Aeroplan welcomes Shenzhen Airlines as newest partner

Aeroplan has announced the addition of Shenzhen Airlines to its roster of airline travel partners. Starting today, Aeroplan members can accumulate and redeem Aeroplan miles for travel with Shenzhen Airlines of China, bringing the total number of airline partners to 34. "Bringing Shenzhen Airlines into the program is a great addition as we'll provide our members with more flight options for the international traveller,"said David Houston, vice-president, Partnerships, Aeroplan. "We're very excited for this partnership as Shenzhen Airlines will help us to grow our member offer with more...

By Bob Mowat

November 29, 2012

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

Air Canada has unveiled details of a major expansion of its international services for the summer of 2013, with plans for the launch of a new non-stop route between Toronto and Seoul; introduction of service to Istanbul subject to government approval; the addition of seven weekly departures to Beijing from Toronto and Vancouver; and the upgrading of its Calgary-Tokyo Narita route to provide daily service. Ben Smith, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, said that: "Air Canada is seizing the opportunities of the Pacific Century with the most far-reaching international...

By Bob Mowat

November 29, 2012

Sandy adds to industry challenges: IATA

IATA reports that global traffic results for October show a persistent softening of passenger traffic growth and a significant deterioration in freight demand. The industry association said that passenger demand rose 2.8% compared to October 2011, but declined 0.5% compared to September. Capacity increased by 2.3% over the year-ago period, and load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 78.8% October freight demand was 3.5% below the previous year level and declined 2.2% compared to September. The freight load factor weakened to 46.1% from 46.7% a year ago. Tony Tyler, IATA's director general...