Airline News & Updates | Canada's Airline Industry

By Bob Mowat

December 16, 2011

ARTA reacts to governments plan

Reports indicate that the federal government will be announcing new regulations requiring advertised airline ticket prices to include all taxes, fees and possibly additional charges. The new rules are expected to take effect at some time in 2012. ARTA Canada was quick to comment on the reports of the expected announcement (set for today -- Friday, Dec. 16, 2011), with its president, Bruce Bishins observing: "Needless to say, the specific details regarding which taxes, fees, surcharges, and other amounts must be included in an all-inclusive advertised ticket price needs to be carefully...

By TravelPress Staff

December 16, 2011

Sunquest launches Halifax-Nassau service

There's an extra special gift in Santa's sack this year for travellers on the East Coast - a new twice weekly direct flight from Halifax to Nassau, The Bahamas from Sunquest. New for the 2012 winter season, this non-stop service aboard a 217-seat Thomas Cook Canada Boeing 757 will depart Thursdays and Sundays, Feb. 2 through April 8. Sunquest offers Bahamas packages featuring such hotels as Atlantis Paradise Island, Sheraton Nassau Beach, Wyndham Resort & Crystal Palace Casino, Sandals Royal Bahamian (All-Inclusive), SuperClubs Breezes (All-Inclusive), The Best Western Bayview Suites,...

By TravelPress Staff

December 16, 2011

WestJet off to Hawaii from Calgary, Edmonton

WestJet has launched the return of its non-stop seasonal service from Calgary to Maui, Calgary to Honolulu and Edmonton to Maui. The inaugural flight from Calgary to Maui departed yesterday (Dec. 15), with the first flight to Honolulu departing today (Dec. 16). WestJet launches services from Edmonton to Maui on Dec. 18. The aircraft, a Boeing 757-200 leased from Thomas Cook Airlines featuring WestJet flight attendants and service, offers additional capacity and more access to the only daytime scheduled non-stop flights between Alberta and the popular Hawaiian islands. One-way fares between...

By TravelPress Staff

December 16, 2011

Calgary Stampede tops WestJet survey

An online contest by WestJet has determined that the Calgary Stampede is Canada's favourite festival. Launched for a second year, the WestJet Festivals contest invited Canadians coast-to-coast to choose their favourite Canadian festival. After more than 10,000 votes were cast, the Calgary Stampede was selected, beating out more than 230 other festivals from across the country. Others that garnered votes included the Royal St. John's Regatta in St. John's, NL; the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, and the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal....

By TravelPress Staff

December 16, 2011

United’s Schwab appointed new Star Alliance CEO

The chief executive board of Star Alliance has appointed Mark Schwab to head the Star Alliance central organization, based in Frankfurt, Germany as its new chief executive. Schwab comes from Star Alliance member United where he was responsible for the company's alliances as senior vice-president, Alliances. In this capacity he also served as a member of Star Alliance's management board. He succeeds Jaan Albrecht, who was appointed as CEO of Austrian Airlines on Nov. 1....

By Bob Mowat

December 15, 2011

Transat takes action as margins suffer

Transat A.T has reported that for its fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 2011, it posted revenues of $3.7 billion, compared with $3.5 billion in 2010. Its margin before restructuring charge of $36.5 million, compared with $127.6 million in 2010, and a net loss of $12.2 million ($0.32 per share on a diluted basis), compared with net income of $65.6 million ($1.73 per share on a diluted basis) in 2010. Before non-operating items, Transat reported an adjusted after-tax loss3 of $7.2ámillion in 2011 ($0.19 per share on a diluted basis), compared with a net income of $53.7 million ($1.41 per share...

By TravelPress Staff

December 15, 2011

WestJet signs codeshare agreement with JAL

WestJet has signed a codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL) and will begin accepting connecting guests on WestJet flights as of tomorrow (Dec. 15). Under the agreement, which will allow Japan Airline's guests to travel seamlessly into WestJet's network, Japan Airlines will place its "JL"flight indicator on WestJet-operated flights between Vancouver and six Canadian cities -- Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg. Ticket sales begin today. In addition to Japan Airlines, WestJet now has codeshare agreements with Cathay Pacific, KLM and American Airlines. The airline...