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| WestJet buying 20 new Boeing 737s |
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Airline purchases aircraft in anticipation of growth over the next five years
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| Ken McKenzie, Executive Vice-President, WestJet | | This morning, WestJet announced the signing of an agreement with Boeing to purchase 20 Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft. Fourteen aircraft will be delivered in 2012, with an additional six in 2013. Ken McKenzie, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Operations commented, "Consumer demand for WestJet continues to grow. We have had a significant impact on the North American airline industry and require these additional aircraft to satisfy the demands of our guests for our services in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico." McKenzie added that WestJet envisions a great deal of growth over the next five to six years, noting that “we have numerous capacity deployment opportunities in which we envision WestJet flying to over 60 destinations in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.”
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| ETIHAD UNVEILS NEW A340-600 |
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Three-week-old Airbus and new Diamond Seat open for business
Lisa Raffaele
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| Pauli Karbach, Area Manager Canada, Etihad Airways | | Yesterday morning Etihad Airways unveiled the new Airbus 340-600, complete with the new Diamond Seat to a select group of media. The new aircraft first entered Pearson Airport three weeks ago and has been turning heads ever since. Etihad Airways was established by a royal decree in July 2003, with Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, as its hub. It began commercial operations in November 2003. The Airbus 340-600 is separated into three sections: Diamond class, Pearl and Coral. Once you set foot on the aircraft, it’s easy to see why the new Diamond Seat has set industry benchmarks. Each seat is able to rotate 180 degrees, enabling guests to hold small meetings, dine and converse without ever having to get up or shift in their seat. The Diamond section also features a 23-inch personal LCD video screen for each chair.
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| WJ PROFIT IN Q2 FALLS |
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| Sean Durfy, President of WestJet | | WestJet's Q2 profit falls to $11.5M from $22.4M, revenue soars
Despite soaring revenue, WestJet says its second-quarter profit fell to $11.5 million from last year’s $22.4 million after the discount airline posted a big charge for its reservation system writedown. As reported July 19, the Calgary-based airline's earnings were hit by a $31.9-million one-time impairment loss related to costs for the cancelled aiRES project. “Excluding the reservation system writedown, the airline's earnings from operations produced record second quarter and year-to-date operating margins of 12.1 per cent for the quarter and 11.6 per cent for the first six months of 2007,”' the firm said Wednesday. “Our people worked very hard for these results and we thank them for their continued efforts,” Sean Durfy, WestJet president, said in a release.
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| ACV GOES PAPERLESS |
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| Zeina Gedeon, President/CEO of Air Canada Vacations | | Air Canada Vacations issuing e-documents for all new bookings, effective today
Air Canada Vacations is now issuing all travel documents (tickets, vouchers) electronically. This applies to new bookings made today onward for all Air Canada Vacations destinations. The only exception to the new policy is that paper travel documents will continue to be issued for infants and all accompanying passengers travelling on the same booking, for all destinations. Simply receive the e-mail, print, and go! All travel documents will be dispatched in two e-mails: 1) Land Voucher (hotel/cruise/airport-hotel transfers) and 2) Flights (e-ticket). Depending on the booking, agents or customers receive one or both of these emails. Passengers must print vouchers and flight itinerary for presentation where applicable.
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| SIGNATURE’S COCKTAIL FOR SUMMER SUCCESS |
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Excursion credits, gift cards for agents and clients alike
Signature Vacations wants agents to celebrate with its ultimate summer cocktail. Consumer extras and agent appreciation are combined for all bookings across Canada. The first offer is a USD $100 (CAD $100 for Cuba) excursion credit per room on all ITC packages; to be used in destination on Signature-offered excursions. A $100 Citizens Bank Reward Visa Gift Card per booking is given to the consumer for every reservation to a Signature Favourite property. Agents won’t be left out either, as agents will receive a $50 Citizens Bank Reward Visa Gift Card for the agent per booking on all ITC bookings. This is to be shipped directly to the agency or branch manager for distribution in accordance with each company’s guidelines. No tracking required. Read on for more rules and regulations.
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| ADVANTAGE TRAVEL MISSISSAUGA MOVES |
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Office move effective immediately; e-mail, phone, fax numbers remain the same
Advantage Travel's Mississauga Resource Centre is in expansion mode, requiring more space, and has moved to a larger office. Effective immediately, the new address is: Advantage Travel Mississauga, 2585 Skymark Avenue, Suite 307, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4L5. Phone, fax, and e-mail remains unchanged.
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| CARIBBEAN TOURISM TARGETS CANADIANS, EUROPEANS |
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| The 'Spice Island' of Grenada | | Caribbean frets over drop in American tourists; will focus on Canadian, European markets to pick up the slack
Charmaine Pang
American tourists are travelling less to the Caribbean islands, leading to declines of more than 10 per cent this year in islands including Jamaica, St. Lucia and Grenada. To pick up the slack, governments are marketing more to Canadians and Europeans. The American market counts for about 60 per cent of the region’s tourism industry. Some of these efforts appear to be working. Jamaica reported a first-quarter increase in Canadian arrivals of 33 per cent this year, with 70,978 Canadian visitors. In addition, the strong Euro helped boost European visits by 22 per cent through April.
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