Air Canada has launched a limited digital identification trial, becoming the first airline in Canada to offer customers facial recognition technology to confirm identification. In a pilot project currently underway, Air Canada’s digital identification is now available for customers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) when boarding select flights to Winnipeg, and for eligible customers entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Air Canada plans to expand digital identification options to select Canadian airports and Maple Leaf Lounges as part of its pilot project phase. “Many of our customers already utilize digital credentials to simplify their daily Read more
Vancouver Airport
WestJet has reached a tentative agreement with workers in Calgary and Vancouver that should allow the airline to avoid a strike. WestJet and Unifor, the certified union representing certain WestJet airport employees at YYC Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport, said they reached a tentative agreement late Sunday night on the first collective bargaining agreement between the organizations. Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership. “WestJet is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the important contributions of its valued airport employees, in balance with the long-term success of our airline,” Read more
Ottawa says it has hired some 1,200 security workers to deal with ongoing congestion problems at Canadian airports. The federal government on Wednesday July 6 issued the following statement: “On Monday, July 4, Minister Alghabra met with the CEO of Air Canada to discuss current and planned actions being taken by the airline to quickly bring on more employees and to bolster core operations to better respond to the challenges of rapidly increasing demands. This meeting followed similar meetings that Minister Alghabra had with the CEOs of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and WestJet last week. Transport Canada is Read more
Wait times for security continue to decrease at all major airports, and only three per cent of all passengers at Pearson and Vancouver International Airport are now waiting more than 30 minutes in line, the Trudeau government said in a statement today. Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, and Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, issued this statement today to provide an update on actions the Government of Canada and industry partners are taking to reduce wait times at Canadian airports: “The Government of Canada recognizes Read more
Canada’s new ultra-affordable airline, Lynx Air, announces the much anticipated launch of its booking website, with tickets going on sale for flights to the airline’s first five destinations: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna and Winnipeg. This is an important milestone in Lynx’s mission to make air travel accessible to all Canadians, with ultra-low fares, a fleet of brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft and great customer service. Base fares start at $39 for a one-way ticket between Kelowna and Vancouver. One-way fares between Calgary and Vancouver start at $49, while one-way tickets between Calgary and Toronto start at $69, according to Yahoo Finance. Read more
