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| IATA: ‘ALARMING’ DROP IN TRAFFIC |
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IATA predicts losses deeper than projected $5.2B for the year; calls for airlines to have access to markets and global capital
Charmaine Pang
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| Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of IATA | | IATA has announced global international traffic results for September, and the numbers aren’t looking encouraging. Passenger traffic declined 2.9 per cent while cargo traffic dropped 7.7 per cent compared to the same month in 2007. International load factors tumbled by 4.4 percentage points from August to 74.8 per cent in September. “The deterioration in traffic is alarmingly fast-paced and widespread. We have not seen such a decline in passenger traffic since SARS in 2003,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Even the drop in fuel prices is “not enough to offset the impact of the drop in demand. At this rate, losses may be even deeper than our forecast US$5.2 billion for this year,” he added.
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| THE SUNWING SIDE OF CUBA |
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| The Jose Marti monument in Havana | | Journalists visit Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Santa Clara and Varadero from Oct. 7-11, 2008
Charmaine Pang
From October 7th to 11th, Sunwing hosted a group of Canadian travel journalists on a FAM to Cuba, showcasing the cities of Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Santa Clara and Varadero. Travel trade and consumer journalists were accompanied on the FAM by Sunwing’s National Groups Manager, Narcisa Bagnasco. The group was led by Sonia Roque from Cubanacan. Journalists travelled via Toronto to Varadero, a comfortable flight of approximately 3 hours, which included snacks, meals and refreshments along the way. When travelling to Cuba for the first time (or the fiftieth time), one can’t help but marvel at the remarkable diversity of each city.
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| FLIGHT CENTRE GETS NEW VP SALES & MARKETING |
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Jason Hartley appointed as VP product & marketing, Flight Centre North America
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| Jason Hartley | | Flight Centre North America is pleased to announce that Jason Hartley has been named VP, product and marketing replacing Emma Jupp who has accepted a position with Flight Centre in London, England effective December 1. Hartley will also lead the marketing team following the departure of Chris Preston who has fulfilled his two-year Canadian contract and has returned to Australia as head of Flight Centre Ltd’s Escape Travel brand. Jason Hartley was the Nation Leader of air contracting and tactics (ACT) for Flight Centre Ltd. in Australia. He was responsible for the team of 16 directing Australia’s 37 preferred airline contracts. He was also personally responsible for managing the Qantas contract and global Galileo contract. His first role at the company was as marketing manager with Escape Travel, guiding the rebrand from Great Holiday Escape. After 18 months with Escape Travel he commenced in the ACT role which he’s been in for the past four years.
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| RCL ENDS FUEL SUPPLEMENT |
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announces end of fuel supplement on new RCL, Celebrity and Azamara bookings made after Nov. 10
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that the company’s fuel supplement will no longer apply to new Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises bookings made on or after November 10, 2008, anywhere in the world, for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010. This decision takes into consideration the recent reductions in global fuel prices. The company has also established specific guidelines that will determine whether fuel supplement refunds will be provided for sailings that begin in 2009 and later, which were booked prior to November 10, 2008, if fuel prices remain below a specific price threshold. For 2009 sailings and 2010 sailings booked before November 10, 2008, the company will determine on a quarterly basis whether fuel supplements will be refunded.
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| SCENIC DOLLARS AT PAR PRICING |
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Scenic Tours continues to price all trip with Canadian/U.S dollar at par
A tumbling Canadian dollar has meant that some holidays are costing consumers up to 20 per cent more than they would have a just few weeks ago, when the Canadian dollar soared on par and higher with the U.S., says Scenic Tours. However travellers booking an escorted motorcoach tour or European river cruise can book a better value as Scenic Tours continues to price all of its trips with the Canadian and U.S. dollars at par. “This represents a saving of at least $2,000 per couple,” said Nicole De Wilde, Scenic’s vice-president of sales and marketing for North America. “And, travellers can rest assured that once they’ve paid a deposit for their trip, the price is guaranteed against any future currency fluctuations.”
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| OVERSEAS TYPHOID WARNING |
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Typhoid fever cases have jumped in B.C. - travellers should take vaccines several months in advance when travelling to affected areas
Canadian Press
B.C. health authorities say cases of typhoid fever in some areas of Metro Vancouver have jumped almost 50% since 2007. The Fraser Health Authority says more than 80% of typhoid fever in its region are linked to travel to India, mostly to the Punjab. The Fraser Health Authority and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control are recommending that people travelling to places where typhoid is common get vaccinated before their trip. Arrangements for vaccinations should be done several months ahead of time because some vaccines require several doses. Typhoid is also common in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. People are exposed to the bacteria that cause typhoid fever by eating contaminated food and drink.
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| CARNIVAL RETURNS TO GALVESTON, TX |
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Carnival Cruise Lines to resume cruises from Galveston departing on Saturday, Nov. 1
Carnival Cruise Lines, the Port of Galveston’s only year-round cruise operator, announced today that it will resume service from the Texas port on November 1, 2008 following a temporary seize in cruise operations due to Hurricane Ike last month. The Carnival Ecstasy will resume cruises from Galveston departing on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Carnival Conquest will begin service from Galveston Sunday, Nov. 2. Up until that time, the ships will continue to operate round-trip from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal where they were shifted temporarily following Hurricane Ike. The Carnival Ecstasy cruises on October 23 and October 27; and the Carnival Conquest cruise on October 26 will operate round-trip from Houston.
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