Canada’s largest airline says it anticipated this year’s travel surge and has responded with solid action. Air Canada and other major players in the Canadian aviation industry met today with Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to talk about, among other things, recent airport crowding problems at Toronto Pearson and other airports. Following the meeting, Air Canada issued a statement saying it understands the issues at hand. “At Air Canada, we know every trip is important, even more so today as many are flying for the first time in years to see loved ones or take an eagerly anticipated holiday. We Read more
aviation
The government of Canada says it’s bringing in new rules to protect passengers from cancelled or delayed flights. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that, as the Canadian aviation industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and more and more Canadians are choosing to travel by air, it’s especially important that travellers are treated with fairness and respect. “I am pleased to see that the Canadian Transportation Agency’s new Regulations Amending the Air Passenger Protection Regulations are now finalized,” he said in a statement issued today by the Trudeau government. “These regulations require that refunds be provided for cancelled flights or Read more
/ Air Canada announced today the expansion of its international network with the addition of Bangkok, Thailand, the carrier’s first non-stop service to South-East Asia. The airline will also be resuming flights to Mumbai, its second destination in the strategic India market. Air Canada’s seasonal service to Bangkok will operate from its trans-Pacific hub at Vancouver International Airport, while the carrier’s Mumbai flights will operate from Toronto via London-Heathrow. Both routes are subject to receiving final government approvals. Officials say they expect to operate at 81% of their 2019 international capacity this winter. “We are extremely pleased to Read more
Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost airline, today launched its inaugural flight to St. John’s International Airport from Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport. Swoop flight WO186 received a warm welcome upon landing in St. John’s at 12:55 p.m. local time, the first arrival of an ultra-low-cost-carrier (ULCC) in the city. “We are pleased to continue our Atlantic expansion today with our inaugural flight from St. John’s to Hamilton,” said Bert van der Stege, Head of Commercial and Finance, Swoop. “Affordable air travel is critical to the recovery of Newfoundland’s tourism economy, and we’re proud to support the province’s Come Home 2022 Read more
A former Canadian airline executive says airport congestion problems could be with us for some time. Published reports today say that more than one in every 20 flights scheduled to depart from Toronto Pearson Airport were cancelled between June 1 and June 7 due to delays and flight backlogs. The Globe and Mail said Air Canada cancelled nearly 10% of its flights “amid staffing shortages and a surge in passengers at Canada’s busiest airport.” Airlines around the world have been grappling with major delays and problems as travel surges to pre-pandemic levels. U.S. airlines are facing a shortage of pilots. Read more
