Air Canada today said it will cap fares and add more than 6,000 seats in select markets operated by Lynx Air in response to the airline’s announcement that it is suspending operations on February 26, 2024. WestJet also is offering discounts to help affected passengers. The measures are to provide Lynx Air customers affected by the carrier’s shutdown affordable options in the Economy cabin on Air Canada flights for travel within Canada, to the US and to Cancun in Mexico so they can return home or make alternative travel arrangements for planned winter trips. These fares will be available for Read more
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WestJet’s chief executive says Canadians should find plenty of good travel deals this winter and on into summer. Speaking to Yahoo Finance Canada, CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said travel demand is resilient and that he expects a strong winter season. But he also said capacity is up and that there are more options for travellers. “There are markets that have seen strong pent-up demand that drove pricing, because there was an imbalance between supply and demand, the most prominent being on (transatlantic routes) over the summer,” von Hoensbroech said. Demand is now more in line with capacity, which has helped Read more
WestJet and its pilots have ratified a new contract that provides pilots with a big pay boost, and eliminates low-cost carrier Swoop. The second collective bargaining agreement between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing WestJet and Swoop pilots, was ratified today. As negotiated in the collective agreement, the WestJet Group will now begin integration efforts of its ultra-low-cost airline, Swoop. Through an expedited process, the airline anticipates a full integration into its mainline operations by the end of October. To avoid traveller impact, Swoop will operate its existing network through to the end of Read more
Air Canada today reported a strong operational performance to begin the summer travel season. Approximately 540,000 customers flew with the carrier between May 19 and 22, the May long weekend in Canada that traditionally marks the start of the summer travel season. “I am very pleased by the performance of our airline during the first long weekend of the summer, said Kevin O’Connor, Senior Vice President, Global Airports and Operational Control at Air Canada. “We carried heavy loads, with 540,000 customers and our mainline aircraft 95% full on Friday, yet we achieved a flight completion ratio of 98.7% and a Read more
The WestJet Group today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines. WestJet said the transaction, originally announced in March 2022, combines the two Canadian aviation and leisure travel success stories, “and will bring greater choice, competitive airfares and increased direct access to sun destinations to Canadian travellers. “In addition, it positions Sunwing to continue its growth across Canada and permits the newly merged company to protect jobs.” Initially, the airlines will continue independent operations, maintaining a sharp focus on providing an exceptional guest experience and ensuring safe operations. As the two entities transition Read more
