Airline News & Updates | Canada's Airline Industry

By Bob Mowat

November 26, 2012

Self-serve US bag tagging from WestJet

WestJet has introduced self-serve baggage tagging for its guests flying to the United States from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. The carrier launched the same service Nov. 7, 2012, in Calgary -- becoming the first Canadian airline to introduce self-serve baggage tagging on non-stop transborder flights. Self-serve baggage tagging allows WestJet guests to use mobile, web or kiosk check-in to check in for their flight and print their own baggage tags when they arrive at the airport. Guests checking in via kiosk may print their boarding passes and baggage tags at the same...

By TravelPress Staff

November 25, 2012

Emirates celebrates a million

Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, is on the runway to Facebook fame after reaching one million fans globally. The airline, now flying under the banner of "Hello Tomorrow,"launched its Facebook page on March 25 and attracted 300,000 fans in just three weeks. Within only a few more weeks, it was the number one airline on Facebook in the MENA region. Two months later, the page reached half a million fans and today, within only eight months of launching in the social media space, Emirates has reached one million Facebook fans. Fresh from its Facebook success, Emirates has...

By TravelPress Staff

November 22, 2012

Fairmont teams up with British Airways

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has introduced a new perk for its Fairmont President's Club (FPC) members - a bonus of 500 British Airways Avios every time they stay with Fairmont. With UK hubs at both London Heathrow and Gatwick airports connecting flyers to destinations around the world, British Airways is a premier global airline that boasts topflight service to Fairmont locales from Vancouver to Dubai to Singapore. Through the new partnership, FPC Club level members can now earn 500 Avios per qualifying stay, while Premier members can earn 750 Avios per qualifying stay and Platinum members can...

By TravelPress Staff

November 21, 2012

Cathay welcomes new vice-president to Canada

Cathay Pacific Airways has announced the appointment of Cheuk Lo as vice-president, Canada where he will be responsible for the airline's operations in Canada. He relocates to Vancouver from the headquarters in Hong Kong. Lo brings a broad range of experience to his new role. He joined Cathay Pacific in 2002 as a Revenue Analyst and later joined the Management Trainee Program. This was followed by a move to Cathay Pacific's Bangkok office as assistant to General Manager Southeast Asia before being promoted to the role of Manager Penang, Malaysia. In 2008, he relocated back to Hong Kong and...

By TravelPress Staff

November 21, 2012

WestJet adds more flights for Grey Cup

WestJet has announced it will add flights between Calgary and Toronto to accommodate demand from football fans to huddle up for Grey Cup celebrations in Toronto this weekend. The Calgary Stampeders will play the Toronto Argonauts for CFL supremacy at Rogers Centre on Sunday. WestJet will add one flight on Friday from Calgary to Toronto and one flight on Monday from Toronto to Calgary, plus return flights in the opposite direction each day, in addition to the seven flights it offers each weekday. Travellers wishing to travel to and from Toronto for Grey Cup weekend are urged to book quickly,...

By TravelPress Staff

November 19, 2012

PAL set to launch Toronto, Manila service

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will launch a new service between Manila and Toronto on Nov. 30, giving the carrier a direct link to Canada's largest city and its first gateway on the East Coast of North America in 15 years. "We are always keen on developing new markets and Toronto, with its diverse population, booming economy and status as one of the world's top financial centres, presents us a major opportunity to do so,"said PAL president Ramon S. Ang. The new service will trigger a revamp of PAL's Canadian operation. From Nov. 30, the current daily service between Manila and Vancouver will be...

By TravelPress Staff

November 19, 2012

WestJet takes off to Trinidad and Tobago

WestJet will launch daily, non-stop service between Toronto and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago later today (Nov. 16). The inaugural flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Port of Spain departs tonight at 11:30 p.m. EST, arriving at Port of Spain at 6 a.m. Full schedule details and fares to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, are available at...

By TravelPress Staff

November 16, 2012

Lufthansa, flight attendants settle pay dispute

Lufthansa German Airlines and the UFO flight attendants union have reached an agreement to settle their pay dispute. Both sides have today accepted proposals to end the conflict put forward at arbitration by former government economic advisor Professor Bert Rürup. Their agreement resolves the pay dispute, which has occupied the airline since April 2012. The issues discussed at arbitration focused on a pay agreement, profit sharing and the commitment on both sides to negotiate the compensation structure from the arbitration procedure on Jan. 16, 2011. The two sides negotiated on further...

By Bob Mowat

November 15, 2012

US bill blocks EU ETS, ASTA applauds

ASTA is applauding the US House of Representatives' unanimous passage of a bill (S. 1956) that prevents the European Union (EU) from imposing pollution control taxes on the US aviation industry. The bill, which the Senate had also passed unanimously in September, now heads to President Obama's desk. Nina Meyer, ASTA's president and interim CEO, said: "Air travel is the cornerstone of the US travel and tourism industry, and 'selling air' remains a significant contributor to the bottom lines of travel agents across the country. ASTA has long been concerned about proposals that would increase...

By TravelPress Staff

November 15, 2012

AC welcomes EU emissions trading moratorium

Air Canada has welcomed the European Commission's announcement on Monday that it intends to suspend the inclusion of flights to and from non-European Union destinations in its emissions trading scheme. "We are pleased with the Commission's recommendation to suspend the inclusion of international aviation in the EU's trading scheme in order to give ICAO the opportunity to fulfill its mandate and address aviation emissions through a global approach,"said Air Canada president Calin Rovinescu. "Air Canada is fully committed to improving its emissions footprint. We have increased our fuel...