Air Canada has teamed up with Bell to bring its customers new benefits that make it even easier to stay in touch both on the ground and in the skies. And live TV is coming soon to Air Canada flights to the U.S. Air Canada Aeroplan members now receive free in‑flight texting so they can message friends, family and colleagues over Wi‑Fi, while they fly. To use this service, make sure your Aeroplan number is associated with your booking before you complete check-in. Travelling with friends or family? If they are on your booking, they can enjoy free texting too. Read more

Air Canada will begin direct flights between Toronto and Sacramento on June 3, 2023, with four flights per week. Here’s a story I wrote for the Postmedia newspaper group several years ago.  SACRAMENTO – This used to be the Rodney Dangerfield of California cities, a government town that never got the kind of attention heaped on San Francisco or Los Angeles. But wonderful, local food, relatively affordable rents and a great location – 90 minutes from San Francisco and less than that to the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains – have brought in a number of young entrepreneurs looking to make Read more

With less than 24 hours before a potential strike by WestJet pilots, the airline has begun cancelling flights. “As the WestJet Group prepares for labour action by WestJet and Swoop pilots, the airline has started taking down its network,” officials said today in a statement. “This action ensures the airline can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations without support and enables the proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded.” According to the website FlightAware.com, WestJet had cancelled 111 flights (30% of today’s scheduled flights) as of 7 p.m. Eastern Time. According to the Ottawa Read more

Prince Edward Islanders now have year-round air access to the nation’s capital. Porter Airlines today is inaugurating flights between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Charlottetown Airport (YYG), while also confirming plans to serve the route year-round. As Porter arrives in Prince Edward Island, the airline now flies to all Atlantic provinces for the first time, reinforcing a commitment to building its presence in Eastern Canada. Porter is the only airline offering year-round, daily non-stop service between Charlottetown and Ottawa. The direct service begins with 11 weekly flights, increasing to 14 weekly round trips during the summer peak season. As of Read more

Great food. Lively atmosphere. And a new ballpark to admire. A meal at Sportsnet Grill is a great way to enjoy a Toronto Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre. Located just off the lobby of the lively Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, the grill has stepped up its culinary game with a new menu that debuted April 4. You can still get nachos and wings, as well as a Beast Mode Burger with a beef patty, bbq brisket, Nashville-style chicken, crisp bacon, chipotle, mayo and cheese, decked on a bed of lettuce and tomato. Hungry (make that starving) visitors Read more

With a potential WestJet pilots’ strike or company lockout less than 48 hours away, WestJet’s CEO says a “massive” gap remains between the union and airline negotiators. Negotiations are continuing around the clock between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association as the clock ticks down toward a strike deadline of 3 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 19.  CTV News reports the standoff “leaves thousands of passengers with travel plans for the May long weekend and beyond hanging in limbo — and has already affected bookings.” “The gap is still massive,” CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said of the negotiations, Read more