Aviation

An Air Canada IT issue Thursday afternoon caused problems with flights at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. In a tweet around 1:30 p.m., the airport said Air Canada was “experiencing an intranet outage” that was impacting functions including check-in, baggage delivery and gating.

The airport was advising customers to check-in online before leaving for the airport.

In an update just after 3 p.m., Air Canada said the IT issue had been resolved.

“We apologize for any delays and appreciate our customers’ patience,” the airline said in a tweet.

Twitter users lacked sympathy, one who seemingly has limited experience with airlines and airports around the world tweeted, “Worst airline and worst airport in the world.”

Sorry fella. Not even close.

Meanwhile at LAX …

Power was briefly knocked out at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, leaving many passengers at one of the world’s busiest airports in the dark and halting security checks, authorities said.

The airport tweeted at around 2:30 p.m. PT that some terminals, along with traffic lights and other systems, may have lost power, although it said the airfield was operating normally.

The Transportation Security Administration stopped screening passengers in most terminals, the airport said, and it urged people to allow extra time for security checks.

The airport later tweeted that most terminals had lost electricity and added that some departing flights may have been affected because the jet bridges used to board passengers weren’t working.

The airport said most power was restored shortly after 3 p.m.

“Our crews were able to make switches in the field to reroute power to LAX and restore service,” the city Department of Water and Power tweeted.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many flights were affected but the LAX website showed that at least three dozen departing flights scheduled to take off during the outage period were delayed.

The cause of the outage wasn’t immediately clear.

According to Los Angeles World Airports, which operates LAX, it is the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second-busiest in the United States, based on number of passengers.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The latest statement from the FAA at 08:50 EST said, “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the United States following an overnight outage to the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system that provides safety information to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted. The agency continues to look into the cause of the initial problem.”

All flights across the US were grounded due to an issue with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) computer system. At around 6:30 Eastern, there were 760 delays within, into or out of the United States, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The FAA said in a tweet that it was working on restoring its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) System.

The New York Times posted the following update at 08:45 EST

Here’s what to know:

• The F.A.A. expected departures to resume at 9 a.m. Eastern time at most airports. More than 3,700 flights within, into and out of the United States had been delayed on Wednesday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
• Departures resumed at airports in Newark and Atlanta “due to air traffic congestion in those areas,” the F.A.A. said in a statement.
• The delays were spread across the country and affected multiple carriers. United Airlines said in a statement that it had temporarily delayed all domestic flights and that it would issue an update when it learned more from the F.A.A. American Airlines said the situation “impacts all airlines” and that it was “working with the F.A.A. to minimize disruption to our operation and customers.”
• President Biden said he had spoken with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, and asked him to report back when a cause for the failure was identified.

.NOTAMs used to be available through a hotline which was subsequently  phased out with the internet. The alerts span from general information about construction, runway closures, general bird hazard warnings, or low-altitude construction obstacles to urgent flight restrictions or broken equipment.

‘The FAA said earlier it was working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System.  “We are performing final validation checks and repopulating the system now. Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.

“We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.”

Federal officials said Tuesday they will require charter airlines, air-tour operators and plane manufacturers to develop detailed systems for identifying potential safety problems before accidents occur.

The Federal Aviation Administration said safety-management systems have made travel on large airlines safer since their adoption was required in 2018.

We will continue to update this story during the day.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WestJet has the holiday spirit, officially releasing its annual Christmas Miracle video. This year the spot introduces the company’s newest community investment program Miracle Miles, which helps turn flights with WestJet into an opportunity for guests to give back to their communities.

The initiative grants anyone onboard select flights with $1 for every mile flown to give to an eligible charity or non-profit organization of their choice.

WestJet took to the skies to launch its first Miracle Miles trip on Nov. 26, on flight WS551 from Winnipeg to Calgary. Onboard a total of 128 guests and six crew members travelled 677 nautical miles and collectively donated a total of $90,718 to Canadian charities of their choice.

As the holiday season continues, the Miracle Miles program will continue to be present on select flights across Canada, as the airline donates over $150,000 to charities and non-profit organizations across Canada this December. The flights will be kept a surprise until cruising altitude, giving guests and WestJetters additional opportunities to give back.

“At WestJet we are proud to serve a diverse array of communities all year long,” says WestJet executive VP Angela Avery. “In the holiday season we know there is joy to be found in both giving and receiving, so for this year’s Christmas Miracle, we wanted to offer our guests and WestJetters the opportunity to give back to the people and places that are most meaningful to them by supporting a charity or non-profit organization of their own choosing.”

Check out the video below:

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Free WiFi, fresh meals, and enhanced legroom are all part of the new economy class being rolled out by Porter Airlines, with the Toronto-based carrier promising

“An exceptional air travel experience that challenges what every North American airline offers” while addressing its belief that “airlines make many travellers feel undervalued, disrespected, and stressed about flying.”

Coinciding with its strategy to grow in markets throughout North America using new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, as well as its existing De Havilland Dash 8-400 fleet, Porters says its customers will “enjoy a new level of generosity and thoughtful service that is non-existent in economy air travel today.”

“Other airlines have been focused on taking away perks and comforts for decades, but we believe that people should actually enjoy flying as economy passengers,” says Porter Airlines president and CEO Michael Deluce. “It is possible, as we know from having already redefined regional travel over 16 years ago. Now we’re ready to do it for a broader North American market in a way that no traditional or low-cost carrier is willing to…”

The airline says it conducted significant market research across Canada to fully understand what economy passengers want and has created an experience for them accordingly.

“Other airlines save their best service for a small number of passengers who can afford expensive premium fares or have special status, and the quality onboard is often still inferior,” says Kevin Jackson, executive VP and CCO, Porter Airlines. “The vast majority of people travel in economy and must tolerate an eroded experience with few, if any, amenities or services.

“Porter’s approach,” he continues, “disrupts this model by showing that it is possible to respect the needs of economy travellers and make them feel valued by providing a quality, generous experience at competitive prices. We will do this unlike any other North American airline – with style, care, and charm.”

New Porter features include:

Hospitality and comfort

Porter’s existing signature in-flight service, featuring complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, along with a selection of premium snacks, will continue and the introduction of the E195-E2 also brings all passengers free, fast WiFi, with full access to web surfing and streaming. On longer flights, the option of fresh meals made with real food and healthy ingredients is also available.

Porter’s current two-by-two cabin seating is also coming to longer-haul jet travel. This ensures that every passenger enjoys more personal space, thanks to no middle seats on every flight.

Porter’s new E195-E2 aircraft will have a 132-seat, all-economy configuration, offering a number of legroom options. This complements its current fleet of 78-seat Dash 8-400 aircraft that will now offer passengers two legroom options.

PorterReserve

Porter is introducing a new, all-inclusive economy experience called PorterReserve. When passengers purchase a the fare, they receive all of the perks economy travellers may want for one price that is significantly lower than business class. Also included is dedicated airport check-in, early boarding, enhanced legroom, fresh meals on longer flights, Porter’s signature beer, wine and premium snacks, cocktails, two checked bags, and the ability to change flights without a fee.

PorterReserve will be available on every Porter flight. When flying on the E195-E2, this includes the first four rows of the cabin (16 seats) and offers 91 cm of seat pitch, which is similar to business class legroom on other narrowbody aircraft. On Porter’s Dash 8-400 fleet, PorterReserve will be in the first two rows (six seats) with 81 cm of seat pitch.

PorterClassic

Porter’s traditional economy experience is now referred to as PorterClassic. This is the classic Porter service that includes free beer and wine in glassware, and a selection of premium snacks. On flights over 2.5 hours, passengers may also purchase the same high-quality individual fresh entrées and cocktails available in PorterReserve. There is also the option to select additional perks, such as extra legroom, extra baggage, and travel flexibility.

Passengers travelling with a PorterClassic fare will have 76 cm of seat pitch on every Porter aircraft. On the E195-E2, they may also purchase one of 20 PorterStretch seats, offering a minimum of 86 cm of seat pitch.

New fares

Porter will soon expand its fare options to support its broader product offering. Its four existing fare options will be aligned with PorterClassic and two new fares are being introduced with the PorterReserve experience. Fare details will be available at the same time as the first E195-E2 routes are announced.

New destinations

Porter is the North American launch customer for Embraer’s E195-E2, providing the ability to operate throughout North America, including to the west coast, southern US, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The aircraft will initially be deployed from Toronto Pearson International Airport, with Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa also seeing new service with the E195-E2 over time. The first of up to 100 new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to Porter this year and initial routes will be announced in December.

Porter’s existing Dash 8-400 regional fleet will continue operating to more than 20 destinations, with a main base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

Sustainability

The E195-E2 is the most environmentally friendly single-aisle aircraft, at 65% quieter and up to 25% cleaner than previous-generation technology. It has the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip among 120- to 150-seat aircraft and is the quietest single-aisle jet flying today. Combined with its existing De Havilland Dash 8-400s, Porter will have one of the most environmentally sustainable aircraft fleets in the world.

Sustainability is at the heart of the new onboard catering menu design, with a priority on reducing and eventually eliminating single-use plastics onboard, providing biodegradable cups and cutlery, and eco-friendly packaging. Catering partners also feature high-quality Canadian brands that will be announced prior to the introduction of E195-E2 flights.

The complete catering menu is available on flights operating for 2.5 hours or longer. Shorter flights have a full offering of complimentary snacks and beverages.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

At time when it seems every inch of cabin space is precious, Spirit Airlines in the US is introducing a new wider seat. The ultra low-fare airline unveiled its latest state-of-the-art Vector Light seat at the recent Apex Expo 2022 event in Long Beach, Ca.

Designed to be wider and offer extra cushion and other comfortable features to enhance the guest experience, the redesigned interior will be installed on Spirit’s new aircraft deliveries starting in late January 2023. In total, 33 new A320 Family aircraft are planned for delivery throughout 2023.

Among the features:

More Room: Each seat will gain a half-inch of width. The new seat technology unlocks previously unused space with a design that fits closer to the wall of the aircraft, creating an opportunity to increase seat width. This innovation also supports the optimization of cabin operations by adding the extra room without removing space from the aisle to ensure fast boarding and deplaning for Guests. Spirit’s middle seats will continue to be an inch wider than aisle and window seats.

Spirit also continues to champion innovative curved seatback designs that unlock space at the knee level. This additional space amounts to about two more inches of knee space compared to flatback seats on legacy airlines with the same pitch. These extra pockets of space are omitted in the standard industry “pitch” metric, which is focused on flatback seats. So, Guests have more personal space than what the “pitch” measurement indicates.

More Comfort: All seats will now have more cushion and newly added headrests. Big Front Seats are seeing changes in design to include more cushion, nearly an inch more pre-recline, easier to reach tray tables and a wider seatback.

More Fuel-Efficient: The new seats come with an incremental environmental benefit as well. Even with the new features, the weight of each new Vector Light seat will amount to a decrease of nearly 11 ounces per seat thanks to advances in seat frame technology. These small changes have outsized effects in a large-scale operation, resulting in sizable reductions of fuel burn across the fleet.

“Our cabin refresh in 2019 was a significant enhancement in the guest experience, and these new seats are another great step forward in increasing value for our guests,” says Spirit VP Lania Rittenhouse.

Spirit has 33 new planes projected for delivery in 2023.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Upgraded dining in Economy, more in-flight entertainment, and connectivity options, and enriched Premium offerings are among a comprehensive range of enhancements being rolled out by Air Canada starting this month with the aim of elevating the customer experience for passengers.

Among the enhancements, customers will see new and restored services in Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and in Premium cabins onboard, a new Economy Class dining service with a celebrity chef entree internationally plus new Bistro choices in North America.

And in a first for a Canadian airline, complimentary, high-speed Wi-Fi for Premium Rouge passengers.

Meanwhile, starting in 2023, Air Canada will increase its onboard entertainment content by over 25% and introduce Live TV, Bluetooth audio connectivity, and other new features.

“We are investing in all aspects of the journey to make travel even better for customers, including in our Economy and Premium cabins. Today’s announcements go beyond emerging from the pandemic; we’re proud to introduce many new services and options not available today in Canada,” says Air Canada VP Mark Nasr.

New offerings include:

In-Flight entertainment, connectivity

• Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge offer what is says will be the fastest inflight internet in Canada, with inflight Wi-Fi available across the entire Air Canada Rouge fleet of 39 aircraft, across all Air Canada wide-body aircraft and on nearly 90% of the overall Air Canada mainline fleet. Wi-Fi installation will be complete across the remainder of narrow-body aircraft in 2023.

• Effective Nov. 1, Air Canada becomes the first Canadian airline to begin offering complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi onboard. Customers flying in Premium Rouge will enjoy this benefit, giving them the ability to stream their own entertainment, TV shows and movies, listen to their own music or simply remain connected, replacing the previous tablets offered with pre-loaded in-flight entertainment choices. All Rouge customers can continue to access a large selection of complimentary movies and TV shows through the ‘Entertainment on Demand’ section of the onboard portal.

• Beginning 2023, Air Canada will expand its onboard entertainment content by more than 25%, and the airline will introduce new options including Live TV to enable customers to watch sports events and news live. Details for Live TV, as well as additional new features such as Bluetooth audio connectivity and an outside camera feature, will be unveiled soon.

International Economy class dining

Effective Nov. 1, Air Canada will be elevating its International Economy Class dining experience to reflect Canada’s culinary talent and tastes from its global network of destinations. Economy Class dining on all international flights departing Canada is being revamped to feature a hot entree created for Air Canada by renowned Montreal Chef Jérôme Ferrer, a member of Air Canada’s culinary panel. An additional appetizer reflecting destination cuisine is also being presented with all meals, and a separate dessert service will follow.North America Economy class dining

• To offer a broader range of fresh and healthy dining choices for Economy class on North America and Sun destination flights, starting Nov. 1, the Air Canada Bistro menu will be refreshed and expanded to include a brioche bagel smoked salmon sandwich, vegan options such as Farro Salad or Spiced chickpea wrap, Canadian snacks such as Good To Go Blondies and Nomz energy bites, in addition to popular choices such as Montreal smoke meat sandwiches and Air Canada’s fruit and cheese board.

Premium Cabin Services

• Starting Nov. 1, Air Canada is fully restoring its premium cabin services both pre-departure and in-flight, with the return of offers to hang coats and jackets, presentation of pre-departure beverages on international flights and hot towels prior to meal services.

Premium Cabin Amenities

• Air Canada will be introducing new amenity kits to premium cabin customers later in November. The new line of amenity kits and totes have been purposefully designed to significantly minimize single-use plastics including the elimination of plastic wrap.

• Air Canada Signature Class customers on all international flights will be presented with amenity kits in partnership with Acqua di Parma featuring stylish amenity bags containing Acqua di Parma luxury skincare products plus an oversized eye mask, socks, dental products and 3M earplugs for additional comfort and personal care.

• Customers in International Premium Economy and North America Signature Class overnight flights will receive reusable amenity totes containing an eye mask, socks and dental products providing for a more refreshed journey.

Airport lounges

• Many Maple Leaf Lounges in North America now feature elevated food and beverage offerings. Air Canada works with local wine producers and importers to offer a selection that appeals to a wide, global audience, and varietal selections in each lounge will be expanded to six wines plus a bubbly and rosé (seasonally).

• At all hub airports, Air Canada has resumed its full buffet service, with an increased range of salads and the addition of international delectable dishes such as stir-fry and curries in a contemporary presentation. Montreal Maple Leaf Lounges also feature local favourites, including Montreal Fairmount bagels, Montreal’s famous smoked meat sandwiches, and poutine.

• New priority access lanes have been added to select Maple Leaf Lounges during peak times to offer Super Elite and Business Class customers priority entry.

• The Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson now offers a selection of Ontario craft beers, ciders, wine, and hot appetizers such as empanadas, arancini and sliders, in addition to the current range of grab-and-go artisanal sandwiches, salads, cold-pressed fresh juices and specialty coffees.

• Starting this month, Air Canada Chauffeur Service will be introduced at Vancouver International Airport. Eligible connecting International Air Canada Signature Class customers arriving from within Canada will be met by a concierge before being whisked away on the tarmac in a plug-in hybrid or fully electric Porsche vehicle to the Air Canada Signature Suite. Chauffeur service offers an premium experience in Canada for international Signature Class customers connecting through Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International Airports.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

It’s been a tumultuous nearly three years for Transat, starting with Air Canada’s takeover intentions that ultimately were derailed (deplaned?). Then, of course, a historic and horrible pandemic. However, the iconic Canadian company – 35 years young next month – is “still standing,” even if not in the way it expected it would be back in 2019.

But the past is the past, even if it informs the present, and Transat execs came together last week to show off a new plane to select trade partners in Toronto, but also for a state-of-the-company update and crystal ball glimpse of the future.

Indeed, wondering about the future is a fair question, says Transat chief sales and marketing executive Joe Adamo, stating, “We’ve been to hell and back in the travel industry (during the pandemic), but I’m here to tell you, we’re still standing. We are what we were, but we’re transforming.”

So, where does Transat stand?

• As of Aug. 31, the company counted 4,300 – and increasing – employees, though down from 5,000 pre-pandemic. However, efficiencies and technology mean the company likely will not fully reconstitute its former compliment of staff.

• Among those employees, Transat has almost entirely new leadership, including Annick Guérard (president and CEO), who replaced a retiring company co-founder Jean-Marc Eustache in 2021.

• Entering the pandemic with half a billion dollars in the bank and no debt, Adamo admits the company “burned through cash” during the global health crisis, leaving it “leveraged to the hilt” and having taken on debt, including government loans to repay.

• Circumstances have required Transat to “turn the page” on its former aspiration of owning hotels, instead focussing on three core products: airline, tour company, and distribution (travel agencies). In sum, Adamo says, “We are a very different company (in 2022) with a different balance sheet.”

• Nevertheless, sales are brisk this fall, reaching and surpassing 2019 levels, and the company is “confident” about 2023. As for 2022 – a year that started strongly as travel restrictions eased and pent-up consumer demand surged, then lulled during a summer of industry (and airport) staff shortages that caused travel disruptions, then boomed again – it has been “a year of stabilizing and transforming the business.”

“And,” declares the Transat exec, “we’re succeeding.”

So, where is Transat headed?

Towards efficiencies and a focus on its three core products, particularly the airline, for as Adamo observes: “Focussing on the airline first and foremost is vital… It all starts with an airline that is well run, that is efficient. Without a well-run airline, there is no tour operator, and with no tour operator there is no sense in us being in the retail business, because retail is still the go-to channel for selling ITC in this country. So that’s why we focus on the airline – because it all starts with that!”

Additionally:

• Regional retrenchment: Lacking the “scale to meaningfully compete” in Western Canada, Transat has retrenched in the east – Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. Adamo says when the time is right, the company may return to the west, but beyond a small service feeding into Toronto and Montreal, that won’t be soon, though “maybe (beyond 2025) as we regrow the fleet, who knows?” He adds that instead the airline will grow in the east, including having a “compelling offer” in the market this winter and by next year offering capacity comparable to 2019. The decision to recalibrate regionally was difficult, “but absolutely the right choice for us!” says Adamo.

• Fleet: Nothing less than a “massive transformation” of the fleet is under way, with the current roster of aircraft already 40% younger than pre-pandemic thanks to the retirement of older “warhorse” A310s, and older A330s, to be replaced by 12 Airbus321neos (first introduced in summer 2019). By 2025 four extended long-range aircraft will start arriving with the capability of directly reaching destinations like Athens and Rome, plus the Middle East and North Africa.

The fleet will also be focussed entirely on Airbus (with the exception of a couple of short-term leased Boeings), which will reduce costs through maintenance efficiencies and pilots who can be certified to fly more than one aircraft model. This mixed fleet flying capability will be a “game changer from an operational point of view,” says Adamo.

• Network: With a renewed focus on eastern Canada, the airline will also transform its network by “densifying” routes, including South and Europe. Another mandate is to “do a better job” of feeding domestic flights into Toronto and Montreal for Europe flights. Following a beefed-up Florida program and inaugural service to California, a stronger US program is in the offing, including developing the US market through use of Sixth Freedom rights to feed into its European routes.

Adamo says Transat will also be endeavouring to move away from the “extreme seasonality” that saw a lot of its routes “go dark” during shoulder seasons for commercial reasons. “But we’re really trying to level that off – our swings were too extreme,” he says. A key to doing so will be better aircraft utilization by optimizing how and where planes are being used to ensure “more turns,” thereby allowing planes to run more routes.

• Partnerships: The airline will also continue to develop and expand partnerships, like its arrangements with WestJet, and more recently Porter Airlines, to similarly connect Canadians onwards to Europe or Transat’s sun markets.

• Connectivity: Adamo says Transat plans to similarly “raise its game” with its own divisional “connectivity” by better exploiting its own network, such as channeling European passengers on to the South or US destinations through Montreal and Toronto.

• Call centre: Despite the pride of being named North America’s Best Leisure Airline for 2022 in the prestigious annual Skytrax awards, Adamo acknowledges that the company has still has some “shortcomings,” notably in the area of customer service. Stating that the pandemic “laid bare the inefficiency of legacy systems” in the travel industry – which were particularly prevalent during the summer “when the industry really took it on the chin” – he says matter-of-factly, “Our current (call centre) is unacceptable,” adding, “I do apologize; I would have thought that we would be in better shape at this point. We are not.”

He adds that, “While perhaps not perceptible, you have to believe me, it (caller wait time) is getting better… every week. You have my commitment that we are deploying every resource necessary to get our heads above water…”

Citing ubiquitous staffing shortages, Adamo assures that problems are in no way related to cost-cutting and that Transat is endeavouring to attract new employees by all means possible, including offering higher salaries, and by investing heavily in technology as the way of the future. He estimates that simple online capabilities (such as being able to check inventory) could reduce the number of calls by 40,000-50,000 annually, thereby easing wait times when contact with a person is necessary. “Self service,” he says, “is a huge, huge deal!”

New brand image

With so much that’s new, it’s only natural that the tour company would seek a new image. Based on the tagline, “Travel Moves Us,” Adamo says that Transat is positioning itself as a facilitator of travel rather than simply “vacations” – an image that is being introduced in a new fall advertising campaign that is its first in three years.

“We are a leisure-first airline, although we do have some business travellers, but the position here is we’re going beyond vacations,” says Adamo. “Leisure travel is more than vacations, it’s VFR… it’s not just fly and flop on the beach. It’s more than that, and that’s what we’re aspiring to. So, we move from vacations to travel, and hoping that we can help our customers to foster openness in every sense of the word.

“We think ‘Travel Moves Us’ works on two levels: the travelling public can recognize themselves in the adverts – it speaks to them because travel moves them.

“But it also works for us a brand because we travel moves us, literally and figuratively. That’s what we’re trying to say!”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News