CANADA, U.S. EXPAND OPEN SKIES - STOP SHORT OF FULL CABOTAGE Canada and the United States have agreed to expand their decade-old open skies agreement to allow carriers to move people and goods beyond each other's borders to third countries but left cabotage (completely open skies) off the table. Effective next September, the existing 1995 open skies deal, which only allows Canadian and American carriers to fly back and forth between the two countries, will permit Canadian and U.S. airlines to fly from their home country, make a stop in the other country to pick up or drop passengers or cargo, and head on to a third country. [Full text]

AIR CANADA GIVEs THUMBS-UP TO EXPANDED OPEN SKIES DEAL Air Canada welcomed the successful conclusion of an Open Skies Agreement. "We are pleased negotiations involving Canada and the U.S. on this important aviation agreement have resulted in such a successful conclusion," said Robert Milton, Chairman, President and CEO of Air Canada's parent company, ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. "Air Canada has long advocated the further liberalization of our shared skies so that we can better link our expanded North American network to our growing international network. [Full text]

WESTJET APPLAUDS TREATY - RENEWS CALL FOR LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WestJet CEO Clive Beddoe, while congratulating "Transport Minister Lapierre for reaching this Agreement with the United States," commented, "I think this is a good step forward for our industry and for consumers, though of course there is still much work to be done by both governments in order to ensure the Agreement is a success." For the new Open Skies deal to reach its full potential for consumers and industry alike, the U.S. and Canadian governments must ensure that a level playing field is established for all carriers... [Full text]

TRAVELPLUS NATIONAL CONFERENCE TravelPlus National Conference TravelPlus recently held its national conference, themed Strength in the Stars, at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, Ontario. Fifteen new members joined the existing group of 20 network members. "We had a very unique supplier event," said Joanne Hutchinson, Director Member Programs, "where our preferred suppliers were stationed around the Intrawest Village and at the top of Blue Mountain and our members were given maps and clues to find them.  At each station they were asked to perform a task before moving on." [Full text]

CITYSHOW: NEW YORK COMPANY LAUNCHES GPS-BASED TOUR GUIDE Laurie Carter Jennifer Loryn with CityShow GPS Tour CityShow is a personal GPS tour guide system that clients carry with them as they walk anywhere in New York City. Along with the standard GPS map features and a handy Subway Finder and Restroom Finder, the satellite-linked unit pinpoints their location and tells them not only where they are but also provides audio commentary on nearby points of interest  - NYC stories, history, music, photos, and information - narrated by New York actress Jennifer Loryn. [Full text]

FIJI INCREASES ROOM CAPACITY BY 17.3% Booking clients into Fiji will be easier with the addition of 1451 new rooms available in 2006, a 17.3 per cent increase over this year, said Bill Gavoka, Chief Executive of The Fiji Visitors Bureau in a pre-World Travel Market statement. "Fiji is currently experiencing a very healthy tourism growth as the islands offer an exotic, safe holiday experience. This substantial increase in hotel availability will enable us to meet this booming demand," he said. [Full text]

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