Upstart Canada Jetlines is still trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. After a few false starts on domestic routes the airline now flies mostly transborder leisure routes from its Toronto hub. In something of a surprise move it now also says Doha is on its radar, in cooperation with Qatar Airways.
Canada
Air Canada, Emirates link up with codeshare, loyalty reciprocity
It is not, perhaps, quite the level of strange bedfellows pondered by Shakespeare in The Tempest, but a new strategic partnership agreement between Air Canada and Emirates is certainly an interesting development.
Porter Air reduces seat pitch as it resumes operations
When passengers return to Porter Air next month they’ll notice a change on board. And a few more people, too. After an 18-month hiatus the carrier is slated to resume flying in mid-September and during the down time it replaced its seats on board. It also added an additional row.
Connect Airlines to launch as Porter clone
Can the US-Canada transborder aviation market handle another competitor? And can Porter Air handle a copy-cat operation at its home base of Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto? Connect Airlines plans to find out later this year.
Air Canada refunds (finally) coming with government bail-out
After more than a year of waiting, tens of thousands of Air Canada customers are poised to finally receive COVID-related refunds. The carrier agreed to convert outstanding credits to proper refunds as part of a C$5.8 billion financial aid package funded by the Canadian government.
Regulators squash Transat/Air Canada merger plans
Questions about the impact to competition hampered the proposed Air Canada/Transat merger from its announcement. Ultimately they killed the deal.
Aeroplan extends elite status through 2022
With a quarter of the year gone recovery of the Canadian aviation sector remains a long way away. Air Canada acknowledged this, choosing to extend elite status in the company’s Aeroplan frequent flyer program another year.
Air Canada, Transat merger approved, with notable conditions attached
Air Canada and Air Transat received approval from the Canadian government this week to close on their merger, though not without some additional conditions covering slots, loyalty, lounges, and Quebec employment guarantees.
Delta, WestJet scrap JV plans
LaGuardia is more important than the rest of the US-Canadian market for Delta Air Lines and WestJet. This is the message sent by the two carriers late Friday as they withdrew their application for antitrust immunity on their joint venture.
Canada plans aviation bailout, so long as passengers get refunds
Canada is on the cusp of pushing serious funds into its aviation industry, a move necessary to keep the planes moving as COVID-19 continues to suppress demand in the country. But Minister of Transport Marc Garneau added a caveat to the plan, one that could make passengers even happier than the airlines: Refunds must be issued for canceled flights.