Porter Airlines on Friday flew a group of media folks on a test flight out of Toronto Pearson to show off their new jets and premium service. I was invited to take the flight but I was flying home from New York City and couldn’t make it. I was, however, able to find a segment from reporter Richard Southern on CityNews. Speaking to Southern on camera, Porter CEO Michael Deluce said he enjoyed a salmon poke lunch on board the test flight. “The entire platform is about disrupting economy travel,” Deluce said. “There’s long been a lot of dissatisfaction about Read more
toronto. Pearson Airport
Lynx Air launched its inaugural flight to the United States today, departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport and arriving at Orlando International Airport. Canada’s new, ultra-affordable airline will operate four direct flights per week between Toronto and Orlando, flying brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft. To celebrate Lynx’s inaugural Orlando service, the airline is offering a chance to win a vacation package for four, including flights, accommodation, and passes to Orlando theme parks. Lynx is also launching a limited-time seat sale, offering up to 50% off base fares for flights from Toronto to Orlando, using the promo code: FLYUSA. Fares start from Read more
The snowstorms that iced many Canadians out of their holiday travel plans, continue to leave airline and railway executives and politicians on the hot seat. New data from the Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians blame airlines and rail companies almost as much as they do the weather for cancelled flights and delayed trains over Christmas and New Years. The Angus Reid poll found that 70% of Canadians blame the weather, but that 68% said the problems lie with airlines and rail companies. One-in-three (33%) point the finger at the federal government. A similar number (30%) blame the travellers for putting Read more
A program that allows Canadian travellers to speed through security and U.S. customs could be back to full strength by spring. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden met yesterday in Mexico City. Following the meeting, it was announced that the Nexus travel program is slowly returning to “normal” operation. Officials said the agreement between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office (CBP) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) will allow Nexus offices to re-open in select Canadian airports. Nexus offices in other locations have been open for the past year or so, but a dispute Read more
The House of Commons committee that handles transportation issues this week will launch special hearings this week to examine the travel chaos that ruined the holidays for hundreds of Canadians. CTV reports the first hearing will take place on Thursday and is expected to see Transport Minister Omar Alghabra field a series of questions about what transpired and what accountability there will be. Airlines and VIA Rail also are expected to appear at before the committee. Major storms in Vancouver just prior to Christmas forced WestJet and other airlines to cancel a number of flights. Another storm moved into Ontario Read more
