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March 31, 2008
Weekly poll
What do you think about the new low-cost Canadian carrier, NewAir?
More competition = better prices for everyone
Another low-cost carrier? I don’t think so
Founder Tim Morgan was a WestJetter; it’ll be a hit
I’m indifferent
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Charmaine Pang
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VIRTUAL MPD FROM ICELANDAIR
Effective immediately (GDS functionality permitting), Icelandair have implemented the ability to issue virtual or paperless MPD documents through BSP.  This process will eliminate the need for paper MPD documents.  Please refer to your GDS for detailed information on the issuing and reporting process.
LAS VEGAS IN 72 HOURS: PART 1
Canadian travel trade press trip to Las Vegas from Feb. 24-28, 2008
Charmaine Pang
The Las Vegas Strip at night. Photo, LVCVA
Last month, TRAVELHotNews.com and other Canadian travel trade media immersed themselves in three days of pure Vegas. The trip took place from Feb. 24-28, 2008, courtesy of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors’ Authority (LVCVA) and WestJet. This is the first part of a three-part series of articles covering the Las Vegas fam trip. A phenomenal number of rooms – roughly 40,000 – will be added to Las Vegas inventory by the year 2010, bringing the total number of rooms to 173,000. This is welcome news in a town that’s used to an average occupancy rate that hovers around the 90 per cent mark. Today, learn about resort mogul Steve Wynn’s Mirage, Bellagio and Wynn resorts. Read on for the full article. [Full text and pictures]
SUNQUEST GROUPS BROCHURE NOW OUT
New Price Guarantee, Free Air Seat promo and more
Sunquest has just released its new 2008/09 Groups brochure, featuring all of the great services and deals for friends and families heading south for a wedding, family reunion, meeting or vacation at one of the many hotels and resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean available through Sunquest. Along with taking care of your group from start to finish, arranging group travel with Sunquest also brings with it a number of deals and promotions, including new this year, the Sunquest Price Guarantee and Free Air Seat Promo, as well as complimentary stays, free advance seating, agent and passenger promotions, wedding promotions, and more. Read on for all the details. [Full text and pictures]
PORTER LAUNCHES NEW YORK ROUTE
Porter launches daily Toronto-New York route today
Porter Airlines today introduces new and innovative air service between Toronto and New York. The standard-setting carrier will acquaint New Yorkers with the airline’s unique premium short-haul air travel model committed to convenience, speed and service.  The Toronto-based airline enters the U.S. market with the launch of seven daily roundtrip flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA).  Weekday service between Toronto and New York will be complemented by two Saturday roundtrips and three Sunday roundtrips.  The ceremonial first flight for the new route is scheduled to arrive at Terminal B in Newark at 10:30 a.m. and will be greeted by the airport’s traditional fire truck water salute. Read on for more. [Full text and pictures]
INTAIR CRUISES’ CARNIVAL INCENTIVE
Earn up to 5,000 Intair Points…find out how!
Intair Cruises, Canada's premier Carnival Cruise Lines wholesaler, offers travel agents a booking incentive on Carnival’s Europe 2008 program. All files including a cabin and a pair of consolidated air tickets booked from March 28th 2008 until April 30th 2008 will earn travel professionals up to 5,000 Intair Points. Cruise only bookings are also eligible to the promotion and earn agents 3,000 Intair Points. All Carnival reservations made with Intair are reported to Carnival Cruise Lines, ensuring that travel agents are made eligible to all of the cruise line's promotions. To contact Intair Cruises, call 1-888-223-0259.
TOUR EAST: ASIA NOW ROAD SHOWS
Road shows in Ottawa, Montreal and Edmonton from Apr. 22-24
Tour East Holidays has announced it will be participating in the April series of the Asia Now Road Shows. Agents are invited to come out to see Tour East Holidays' knowledgeable representatives to learn more about the Asia Now destinations that include China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.  "In the years Asia Now has been around it has become one of the most important gatherings of Asia travel trade and that is why we felt we needed to be a part of it," said Annie Tsu, Director & Executive Vice President of Tour East Holidays. Look out for Tour East Holidays' representatives at the Asia Now Road Shows on April 22 in Ottawa, April 23 in Montreal and April 24 in Edmonton. For more information on Tour East Holidays' tours to China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, visit toureastholidays.com.
TICO CLARIFIES SUPERVISOR/MANAGER EXAM REQUIREMENTS
Council states “no change” in requirements; “unable to guarantee” exemption will never change
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has clarified in a press release that “there have been no changes to the Education Standards requirements for supervisor/managers.” The press release goes on to state: The Supervisor/Manager on record with TICO as of June 30, 2009 is grandfathered from having to write the Supervisor/Manager Exam. Some registrants have asked TICO to guarantee that the grandfathering of supervisor/managers will never change in the future. As the government is responsible for the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 26/05, TICO is unable to guarantee that the exemption from having to write the Supervisor/Manager Exam will never change. [Full text and pictures]
ALOHA AIRLINES TO SHUT DOWN
Aloha Airlines to shut down inter-island, transpacific passenger flight operations after 61 years
Aloha Airlines announced today that it will be shutting down its inter-island and transpacific passenger flight operations. Aloha’s last day of operations will be Monday, March 31, 2008. On that day, Aloha will operate its schedule with the exception of flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and flights from Orange County to Reno and Sacramento, and Oakland to Las Vegas. Code-share partner United Airlines and other airlines are prepared to assist and accommodate Alohas passengers who have been inconvenienced.  For more information on United’s accommodation options, contact United at 1-800-UNITED1 or united.com.  Read on for more details. [Full text and pictures]
SMART 2008 IN ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN
7th annual tradeshow highlights the Northeastern Caribbean from May 20-22, 2008 
St. Maarten pier
SMART, the St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow, returns to the dual-nation island of St. Maarten/St. Martin from May 20-22 for its seventh consecutive year. This event provides tour operators with a networking opportunity to negotiate future business. The three-day event showcases the islands of the Northeastern Caribbean, which include Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Maarten/St. Martin. The SMART tradeshow will take place over a three-day period at the beachfront Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, located on the southwest coast of Dutch St. Maarten in Simpson Bay. [Full text and pictures]

BA CANCELS 54 MORE FLIGHTS AT T5
Canadian Press
British Airways cancelled 54 more short-haul flights at Heathrow Airport's problem-plagued new Terminal 5 today. Almost 300 flights have been scrapped and some 15,000 bags have been separated from their owners since the state-of-the-art terminal opened last Thursday. Airport operators have said the problems were triggered by glitches with the terminal's high-tech baggage-handling system.  BA said the terminal was working at 87 per cent capacity Monday and service was returning to normal. But it warned there would be more cancellations Tuesday. The chaos has been a major embarrassment for BA and airport operator BAA PLC.
FUN SUN AND ALOHA AIRLINES
Fun Sun Vacations has appointed a team to work on all Aloha Airlines files on a file-by-file basis starting with immediate departures.  If you have passengers travelling with Aloha Airlines with Fun Sun Vacations, the tour operator will be in contact with you to advise you of the options available to your clients.
AC GRASS LANDING
Canadian Press
Passengers on board an Air Canada flight from Sydney, Australia to Vancouver had to disembark the old-fashioned way Saturday morning when the nose gear of their jet accidentally went into the grass. Flight 34 made a safe and normal landing, but when the Boeing 777 turned off the runway to the taxiway it went into the rough instead. The 276 passengers were taken off using the mobile stairs, and then they were bused to the international terminal. An Air Canada official says there were no injuries or flight delays.
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