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| IATA FLIES LOW IN 2008/2009 |
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CEO Bisignani says bottom is nowhere in sight for airline industry, cautions for “a bumpy ride and a hard landing”
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| Giovanni Bisignani | | The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released international scheduled traffic results for both December 2008 and the full year. In the month of December global international cargo traffic plummeted by 22.6 per cent compared to December 2007. The same comparison for international passenger traffic showed a 4.6 per cent drop. The international load factor stood at 73.8 per cent. For the full-year 2008, international cargo traffic was down 4.0 per cent, passenger traffic showed a modest increase of 1.6 per cent, and the international load factor stood at 75.9 per cent. Director General and CEO of IATA, Giovanni Bisignani, cautions that the bottom is nowhere in sight and the industry should "fasten their seatbelts" for the tough year ahead.
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| LAN.COM LAUNCHES IN CANADA |
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LAN Airlines launches LAN.com website for Canada, with special introductory fares from $599
LAN Airlines and its affiliate LAN Argentina have launched LAN.com Canada, which will be home to new fares for travel to South America. Passengers can take advantage of special rates between now and February 28th, 2009 on LAN.com through LAN call centers, or through their preferred travel agent for travel between February 1 and June 15, 2009. “The creation of LAN.com Canada is an integral part of LAN’s commitment to providing superior service to our Canadian customers and will offer the latest information, news and travel deals from the airline,” said Pablo Yunis, LAN Airlines’ Vice President for, North America & the Caribbean. Keep reading for introductory rates and more information.
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| ACV LAUNCHES GAY & LESBIAN PACKAGES |
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Gay & lesbian air and hotel packages now available to U.S., Mexico and Caribbean
Air Canada Vacations has announced its new gay and lesbian air & hotel packages to 11 popular destinations in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. Partnering with gay-friendly resorts and hotels, Air Canada Vacations’ packages offer the choice of 45 hotels in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Cancun/Mayan Riviera, Puerto Vallarta, Aruba, Bermuda and San José (Costa Rica). “Our 45 partner hotels have committed to delivering hospitality and service that is welcoming to the gay and lesbian community,” says Nino Montagnese, Senior Director, Sales, Air Canada Vacations. Keep reading for more information and how to book.
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| SUNWING EXTENDS SALE |
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Buy one and get a second holiday for half price; sale extended until Feb. 6, 2009
Sunwing is extending its latest sale, which offers a half-price holiday for every one purchased at full price. The sale has proven so popular that the package holiday company has extended it until Feb. 6, 2009. The offer is applicable for bookings on selected holidays to Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida and Las Vegas departing during the months of January, February and March from over twenty cities across Canada. Please note, group travel and air-only bookings do not qualify for the sale. Keep reading for more information.
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| WESTJET CHOOSES SABRESONIC |
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WestJet decides on SabreSonic as new reservations system
WestJet has chosen Sabre Airline Solutions' SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service Solution (CSS) as their new reservations system to help them facilitate their expansion plans for 2009. The system pairs inventory capabilities and comprehensive merchandising functions with insightful information about guests so the airline can tailor product and service offerings to fit each customer's needs. "We conducted an exhaustive evaluation of Sabre's reservations system and their competitors and Sabre was chosen as the best fit to meet our needs for business travellers, ancillary revenues and airline partnerships," said Sean Durfy, chief executive of WestJet.
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| TOUR EAST EXPLORES TAIWAN |
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Tour East offers a unique 8-night experience in Taiwan from $2,050 land only
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| Buddha at the Fo Guang Shan Monastery | | Your clients can experience Asia like never before, by visiting Taiwan with Tour East. On this 8-night trip, Tour East Holidays makes it possible for your clients to stay one night at the historic Fo Guang Shan monastery where they can experience the Buddhist lifestyle by eating vegetarian dishes and joining resident monks in their early morning prayer and chanting rituals. For $2,150 per person - land only - Tour East Holidays also will take clients to Taiwan's idyllic islands. Taiwan's ethnic villages, natural scenery and hot spring baths offer the perfect winter getaway. The capital city of Taipei is one of the world's most active and exciting cities, offering rare shopping and culinary treats found nowhere else. Keep reading for more itinerary details.
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| SUN DEAL ENDS TONIGHT! |
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| Agents, don't forget that Sunquest's Sun Deal ends tonight at midnight. Any booking made between Dec. 29, 2008 and today by midnight applies, simply go online to sunquestagent.ca, holidayhouseagent.ca, intair.com or funsunagent.com, and enter your valid booking numbers to win up to $100 every time. If the booking has RainCheck on it, you will be eligible for a $5 bonus to be added on top of your winnings.
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| GRAND TURK CRUISES INTO 2009 |
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Grand Turk Cruise Center projects 500,000 visitors for 2009; adds car rental service
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| Grand Turk Cruise Center | |
With 229 cruise ship calls scheduled for 2009, the Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) is on track for hosting a record 500,000 passengers in the coming year. The unprecedented half-million passenger mark is a 25 percent increase over 2008, during which the GTCC was closed for 30 days following Hurricane Ike. A key reason for Grand Turk’s continued popularity is the wide array of organized excursion opportunities for visitors, from horseback riding and kayaking to world-class diving, snorkeling and fishing. For those guests who want to explore the island on their own, the new Grand Turk Grace Bay Car Rentals recently opened at the Grand Turk Cruise Center.
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