WESTJET ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS AND LOAD FACTORS Clive Beddoe WestJet today announced its 2005 third quarter results. Clive Beddoe, WestJet's President and CEO, commented, "We are very pleased to report that our third quarter earnings grew 43.6 per cent over the same period last year to $30.3 million. Pre-tax earnings grew to $48.5 million, a 36.2 per cent increase over the $35.6 million earned in the third quarter of 2004. This is a significant achievement given the high cost of energy and the difficulty associated with predicting future prices of jet fuel." WestJet's load factor for the quarter was 78.6 per cent compared with 76.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2004. The airline's year-to-date load factor was 74.5 per cent compared with 71.0 per cent during the first nine months of 2004. [Full text]

AIR CANADA VACATIONS MEXICO RESORT AVAILABILITY UPDATE Air Canada Vacations reports that it continues with on-going assessment of the status of all resorts in Cancun, Cozumel and the Mayan Riviera affected by Hurricane Wilma. The following is an update as to availability for future arrivals and booking. ACV says that developments are being monitored on a regular basis and additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available. [Full text]

WESTJET ENHANCES SERVICE TO SUNSPOTS Sean Durfy WestJet has announced numerous schedule enhancements, including new non-stop routes and increased frequencies between cities throughout North America. Sean Durfy, WestJet's Executive Vice-President of Marketing and Sales, said the enhancements "offer greater choices for people travelling to sunspots and vacation destinations in the United States from cities across our Canadian network." In January 2006, WestJet will increase the number of departures between cities in its existing route network as follows: [Full text]

ACE AVIATION POSTS BIG YEAR-TO-YEAR TURNAROUND IN Q3 Robert Milton Air Canada parent ACE Aviation has posted a Q3 profit of $270 million, versus a loss for the same period one year ago. Air Canada claimed this third-quarter financial and operating performance was the best of any North American airline. The year-earlier numbers included reorganization and restructuring items of $313 million. Operating revenues in the latest quarter rose 14 per cent to $2.83 billion. "Our ongoing efforts to reposition this company are clearly paying off,'' Robert Milton, chairman and CEO of ACE Aviation, said in a conference call with analysts Wednesday. [Full text]

CHINA'S PPRD COOPERATIVE TOURS CANADA - INCLUDES ASTA STOP Laurie Carter China's Pan Pearl River Delegation The regions of China's Pearl River Delta - Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau - have joined forces with eight surrounding provinces to create the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) cooperative, currently touring Canada to promote tourism. Representatives of the group, which also includes Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hainan made presentations for the media in Toronto yesterday at the Metropolitan Hotel. Among the other stops on their Canadian tour the delegation will take part in ASTA's World Travel Congress in Montreal next week. [Full text]

LONG CRUISE REVENUE NICHE Cruise lines are seeing increased demand for a luxurious and pricey niche: trips that run anywhere from two weeks to several months. For 2006, Holland America plans a 20 per cent increase in cruises longer than 12 days. And in 2007, demand is forcing the line to switch to a larger, 1,380-person capacity ship for its around-the-world cruise, reversing the scale-down that followed 9/11. At Cunard Lines, also a Carnival subsidiary, demand for world cruises is so great the company plans two simultaneous trips in 2007. [Full text]

JAMAICA'S GRAND LIDO NEGRIL RESORT & SPA - FLU SEASON SPECIAL Jamaica's Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa Jamaica's Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa has spun a new twist on the health-travel theme for this year's flu season. Its Travel Prescription to Good Health package starts at $249 US per person, per night, based on double-occupancy for beachfront suites with in-room Jacuzzis. Guests in the pursuit of good health and a well-balanced lifestyle can golf, play tennis, scuba dive and snorkel, or join regular fitness classes with trained instructors.  Flu shots are available as part of the package, which is bookable now through December 15, for travel completed by December 20, 2005. [Full text]

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