Airlines

AC reiterates compliance with Public Participation Act

Air Canada president and chief executive officer Calin Rovinescu provided the following remarks to the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities earlier today (March 29) following the closure by Aveos Fleet Performance Inc., a separate and independently owned and managed supplier to Air Canada, of its operations in Canada. "Let me state clearly and unequivocally that we continue to be in full compliance with the letter and the spirit of the Air Canada Public Participation Act -- despite the demise of Aveos. In May 2011, less than one year ago, Mr....

Air Transat extends all-inclusive pricing across Canada

Air Transat's new all-inclusive pricing policy is being rolled out across Canada. As of yesterday (March 29), Air Transat's advertised airfares will always include all additional taxes and mandatory fees to simplify the process of shopping for airfare. The all-inclusive pricing policy has been in effect in Quebec since last year. "The rollout of this pricing policy across Canada will provide more consistency across the board and be more user-friendly for travellers shopping around for airfare. This approach offers more transparency and improves communication with travellers,"says Joseph...

Icelandair resumes Toronto service

Icelandair has resumed seasonal service out of Pearson International in Toronto, offering four flights per week operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Service runs through Nov. 4. Service from Toronto will then resume on March 22, 2013. Icelandair's seasonal flights from Halifax will resume on June 7 with up to three flights per week through Oct. 8, returning in the spring of 2013. This year, Icelandair celebrates 75 years of aviation with the largest network in its history, including additional flights to London through recently added Gatwick and daily service to Heathrow....

EVA Air accepted as future Star Alliance member

Star Alliance's executive board has unanimously accepted the membership application of EVA Air. The decision underscores the Alliance's long-term strategy of seeking network growth and providing access to new regions which show strong economic potential and development. "EVA Air is a very good fit for Star Alliance as the airline will add many new routes to our global network, with a specific focus on the growing Far East aviation market. This will increase the choice for our customers and is in line with our mission of being the leading global airline alliance for the international...

Porter makes RBC Insurance available

Porter Airlines is now giving its passengers the option to purchase RBC Insurance when booking flights. Insurance is available to Canadian residents and includes options such as medical coverage, trip cancellation and interruption, and baggage delay, depending on the package. "We are very pleased to now offer RBC Insurance travel insurance directly to our passengers,"said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "This is also a preview of what we'll offer through our Porter Escapes division."Porter Escapes will sell vacation packages built around Porter destinations, combining...

Qatar launches flights to Rwanda

Qatar Airways has further expanded operations in Africa with the launch of its 17th destination on the continent - daily scheduled flights to Rwanda. The arrival of flight QR 536 to Rwanda's capital city of Kigali takes the airline's African capacity up to 132 passenger flights each week across a diverse network of cities. In recent months, Qatar has launched new African services to Benghazi in Libya and the Ugandan city of Entebbe, with a further three route start-ups planned over the next few months - Mombasa in Kenya, and both Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar in Tanzania. Rwanda is fast emerging...

KLM, Ukraine International strengthen ties

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Ukraine International Airlines are enhancing their working relationship with both airlines increasing capacity between Amsterdam and Kiev and expanding their codeshare agreement considerably. With the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship on the horizon, the two carriers are offering passengers a greater choice of flights to the Ukraine. "This serves to strengthen Schiphol's position as a mainport, optimizing connections with the Eastern Europe growth market,"says KLM COO Pieter Elbers. "What is more, KLM and Ukraine International Airlines' destinations connect...

Wildcat walkout at AC over

A wildcat walkout by Air Canada ground workers that started late on Thursday in Toronto has ended after Air Canada obtained an injunction forcing its employees back to work. Reports indicate that problems began when three workers were suspended in Toronto for what's being described as "slow clapping" federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt when she was seen in the baggage hall at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Following the walk out, there were discussions between Air Canada and union officials and the result is an arrangement has been reached that will allow the three workers - who were...

AC workers stage wildcat strike

Air Canada ground workers at Pearson International in Toronto have staged a wildcat strike, forcing the airline to cancel more than two dozen flights and disrupting many others. Reports say workers in Montreal have joined in the job action. An Air Canada spokesperson said airline officials are meeting with lawyers to discuss how to bring an end to the strike. Agents and/or their clients are advised to check on their flight status at aircanada.com before heading to the airport. In order to facilitate changes to travel plans, Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers booked on...