Airlines
WestJet, Porter post record numbers for August
WestJet reports August 2012 traffic results with an all-time record load factor of 88.9%. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 9.2% year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 2.3% over the same period. The airline flew nearly 172,000 more guests this August compared to August of last year. "We are extremely pleased to report the highest single-month load factor in WestJet history,"commented WestJet president and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "The demand environment remains strong and we are seeing a growing contribution from our airline codeshares and...
LAN soars with new 787 Dreamliner
LAN Airlines has become the first airline in the Americas to receive the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. LAN will receive 32 of the new aircraft over the next 10 years, with the first three to be delivered this year. The US$4.9-billion order represents one of the largest investments in the airline's history. The first cities served by the LAN fleet of 787s are Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt. The aircraft will begin to fly commercially over the next few months, and those cities will be added gradually during its first year of operation. One of the new features offered...
United’s Dreamliner to start service domestically
United Airlines has announced plans to fly its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on domestic routes starting in November as it prepares to begin previously announced international service in December and January. United expects to take delivery of the first five new Dreamliners this year from its total order for 50 of these aircraft. As the initial aircraft are inducted into the fleet, they will be based at United's Houston hub, with scheduled service phased in between Houston and each of its other domestic hubs beginning Nov. 4. The schedule allows United's 787s to operate more than 470...
Air Canada celebrates 75th with fare promotion
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of its inaugural flight, Air Canada has launched a special promotion offering a 15% discount off Tango and Tango Plus fares for travel this fall to 75 destinations within North America, including its entire Canada-wide network and select transborder routes to the United States. The discount is available on tickets purchased Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 at http://www.aircanada.com/happy75 for travel Sept. 4 to Dec. 14. Seventy-five years ago on Sept. 1, Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), inaugurated its first flight carrying two passengers and...
Business confidence slowing growth
IATA reports that global traffic growth continued to slow in July. July passenger demand in aggregate was 3.4% higher than the same month last year, compared to a 6.3% increase in June and average growth of 6.5% over the first half of the year. This slowdown in travel growth is being driven largely by the recent fall in business confidence in many economies. The industry association said that airlines have responded to this slower growth environment by reducing the capacity added to markets, a move which has stabilized load factors at relatively high levels and provided some support for...
Air France introduces special back to school fares
As part of a new promotion for flights out of Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa to numerous European destinations, Air France is offering reduced fares in Voyageur starting at $799, as well as in its Premium Voyageur cabin starting at $1,249. The promotion runs until Sept. 18 and applies to trips with departures between Sept. 11 and June 18, 2013. In Voyageur class (Economy), travellers can fly to France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Portugal and Russia from $799. Other destinations featured in the promotion include Lebanon and Israel ($999), as well as Mauritius ($1,299). In Premium Voyageur class,...
United expands rebooking options
United Airlines has added several Gulf Coast cities to those covered under the flexible-travel waiver that the airline put in place as a result of Tropical Storm Isaac. Customers travelling on flights to, from or through the affected cities during applicable travel dates may reschedule their itineraries for travel no later than one year from the date of issue with a one-time date or time change, and the airline will waive the change fees. Customers may also request refunds in the original form of payment if they wish to cancel their travel plans. For complete details and eligible travel...
Emirates adds Erbil, Iraq to line-up
Emirates has commenced new non-stop service between Dubai and Erbil city in Iraq, making it the 11th destination launched by the airline this year. The new route marks Emirates newest destination in the Middle East region and its third gateway in Iraq, after Baghdad and Basra, where Emirates operates daily. The launch of Erbil marks Emirates 16th destination in the Middle East. The new service between Emirates hub in Dubai and Erbil will initially operate four times a week, increasing to a daily service from Sept. 1. Emirates is using its Airbus 340-300 on the route, offering 267 seats in a...