Air Canada Launches its New LEAVE LESS Travel Program – Leading the Way for Sustainable Business Travel

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 20, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 20, 2021 – Air Canada to offer Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) to its corporate customers; carbon offsets also available for purchase

Deloitte Canada is the first participant to join program
Airline acting on its long-term goal to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050

MONTREAL, Oct. 19, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada announced today that Deloitte Canada will be the first corporate customer to participate in its new LEAVE LESS Travel Program, which offers corporate customers effective options to offset or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to business travel and reduce their carbon footprint.

Corporate customers can now purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), carbon offsets or a combination of both. The LEAVE LESS Travel Program is one of the many comprehensive initiatives being implemented as part of Air Canada’s Climate Action Plan and an additional step towards achieving the airline’s long-term goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

“Building a long-term sustainable aviation industry requires a collective effort and companies will play a key role in building greener and more sustainable air travel. We are pleased to see that customers, such as Deloitte, are taking concrete actions by supporting and contributing to innovative solutions,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada.

“Air Canada has made sustainability a core component of its business decisions. This initiative allows our corporate customers to offset or reduce the GHG emissions associated with their business travel and empowers their employees to make sustainable choices. With this, companies work towards their sustainability goals while they partner with us to advance decarbonization in the airline industry. Our new, industry-leading LEAVE LESS Travel Program shows our strong and ongoing commitment to transition to low carbon alternatives. It represents a meaningful step forward into reaching our ambitions to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.”

“Deloitte is steadfast in its commitments to address climate change by driving environmentally responsible choices within our organisation and beyond,” said Anthony Viel, CEO at Deloitte Canada. “Our people and our clients know that stakeholders, customers, investors and shareholders desire more sustainable business strategies and we recognise the important role Canadian businesses collectively play in leading the commitment to transition to a low-carbon economy. We are thrilled to be the first company to jump on board this corporate program to accelerate adoption of a fuel source that can dramatically reduce emissions from aviation. By collaborating with Air Canada to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel, we hope that we can inspire and help others contribute to a thriving Canada and a greener world.”

A Simplified, Sustainable Journey

The LEAVE LESS Travel Program allows corporate customers to choose the offering they want through a customized approach using SAF, carbon offsets, or a combination of both, through four core actions:

Calculate: Air Canada tracks and calculates the GHG emissions associated with customers’ business travel.
Select: Customers can choose how they want to mitigate their GHG emissions associated with their business travel: SAF and/or carbon offsets.
Purchase:
- SAF
  Air Canada purchases the required SAF volumes and to ensure the customer can claim the benefits of its investment, Air Canada will implement a SAF certification system in-line with industry-leading best practices.
- Carbon Offset:
  Air Canada facilitates the purchase of carbon offsets
Reduce: Customer contributes to its sustainability goals

The LEAVE LESS Travel Program, supports the airline’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably goal 13: Climate Action. Through its Climate Action Plan, the airline has committed to investing $50 Million in SAF, and carbon reductions and removals.

The Air Canada LEAVE LESS Travel Program will source SAF from Neste, a leading producer of renewable fuels. In neat form and over the life cycle, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ reduces GHG emissions from aircraft by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel.

Air Canada Climate Action Plan

Air Canada has set ambitious climate targets to realize a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) throughout its global operations by 2050. To reach this, Air Canada has set absolute midterm GHG net reduction targets by 2030 in its air and ground operations compared to its 2019 baseline and has committed to investing $50 Million in SAF, and carbon reductions and removals.

Air Canada has built a solid foundation in energy sustainability through numerous comprehensive initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint. Since 2016, over 115 fuel-efficiency projects have been achieved and contributed to more than 145,000 tCO₂e saved. Since 2016, the airline reduced more than 145,000 tCO₂e from its air operations through fuel efficiency initiatives, including participating in eight biofuel flights with ongoing, active support for the development of SAF in Canada including working with the Government of Canada on policy development to support a Canadian-based sustainable aviation fuel industry.

In 2020 and 2019, Air Canada was recognized by Vancouver Airport Authority as the YVR Green Excellence winner for green initiatives on Sea Island including water and energy conservation, waste minimization and the Richmond Ocean Shoreline Cleanup.

Air Canada’s ESG initiatives are further detailed in the airline’s Corporate Sustainability Report, Citizens of the World.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may involve, but are not limited to, comments relating to guidance, strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions. Forward-looking statements are identified using terms and phrases such as “preliminary”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “will”, “would”, and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions, including those described herein and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon due to, amongst other things, changing external events and general uncertainties of the business. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including the factors identified herein and in Air Canada’s public disclosure file available at www.sedar.com including those factors identified in section 17 “Risk Factors” of Air Canada’s 2020 MD&A. The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this news release represent Air Canada’s expectations as of the date of this news release (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made) and are subject to change after such date. However, Air Canada disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline and, in 2019, was among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is Canada’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. In 2020, Air Canada was named Global Traveler’s Best Airline in North America for the second straight year. In January 2021, Air Canada received APEX’s Diamond Status Certification for the Air Canada CleanCare+ biosafety program for managing COVID-19, the only airline in Canada to attain the highest APEX ranking. Air Canada has also committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow Air Canada on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join Air Canada on Facebook.

About Deloitte Canada
Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and service to address clients’ most complex business challenges. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Our global Purpose is making an impact that matters. At Deloitte Canada, that translates into building a better future by accelerating and expanding access to knowledge. We believe we can achieve this Purpose by living our shared values to lead the way, serve with integrity, take care of each other, foster inclusion, and collaborate for measurable impact.

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Qantas – massive release of reward seats in 2022 for frequent flyers

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 20, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 20, 2021 -Millions of seats available across international and domestic routes to be booked with points

Flexibility to book with confidence, with free changes and cancellations
Almost two billion points redeemed on international flights since 1 October
Even more value when booking hotels and holiday packages – 25% off when you use points

To celebrate the reopening of Australia’s borders next month, Qantas is today making the largest single release of additional Classic Flight Reward seats in the airline’s history across its international and domestic network.

The additional seats will make it easier for frequent flyers to book a holiday in 2022 to popular destinations like London, Los Angeles, Fiji, Byron Bay and Cairns.

Qantas Frequent Flyers will have access to up to 50 per cent more reward seat availability on Qantas international, trans-Tasman and popular domestic routes until the end of 2022. Additional reward seats will be made available to book on qantas.com from 7.00am (AEDT) this morning.

Frequent flyers can use their points to book one of millions of reward seats across Qantas, Jetstar and more than 45 international partner airlines including Emirates and American Airlines.

Qantas is also getting set to launch more Points Planes – where every seat in every cabin on a flight is available to book as a reward seat – as more states and territories ease domestic and international travel restrictions

Thousands of frequent flyers snapped up seats between Sydney and London and Los Angeles after these flights were brought forward to 14 November 2021, with members already redeeming almost 2 billion points on international flights in the first two weeks of going on sale, showing just how excited they are to get back into the air.

Flights to Tokyo, Fiji, Canada and Singapore are scheduled to resume from 18 December 2021 with other destinations such as San Francisco, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dallas expected to resume by April next year. Flights between Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to resume from mid-December 2021.

Domestic flights are expected to gradually open in the coming weeks as states and territories reach vaccination targets.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said, “Throughout the pandemic, many Qantas Frequent Flyers have been stockpiling points they have earned on the ground so they can use them to travel once travel restrictions are lifted.

“With members keen to travel internationally and domestically we have released more reward seats to make it easier for our frequent flyers to use their points to go on holidays and be reunited with family and friends in 2022.

“There’s no doubt we will appreciate travel in 2022 like never before and Qantas is excited to help Australians rediscover the joy of flying and making travel memories with their loved ones,” Ms Wirth said.

“We’ll also be announcing more domestic and international Points Planes. It’s our way of thanking our frequent flyers for their ongoing loyalty.”

Qantas Frequent Flyers can book their flights with confidence, with no fees to change or cancel an international Classic Flight Reward seat booking for travel until 31 December 2022 (on bookings made by 28 February 2022).

Reward seats are available at the same great value, with Classic Flight Rewards starting from 6,400 points on Jetstar and 8,000 points on Qantas excluding taxes, fees and carrier charges (TFCC). Qantas Points required to fly to some popular destinations include:

Route	Economy	TFCC	Business Class	TFCC
Sydney – Melbourne	8,000 points	$38.17*	18,400 points	$38.17*
Brisbane – Melbourne	12,000 points	$37.48*	27,600 points	$37.48*
Melbourne – Auckland	18,000 points	$181.80*	41,500 points	$181.80*
Sydney – Fiji (Nadi)	18,000 points	$129.60*	41,500 points	$129.60*
Brisbane – Los Angeles	41,900 points	$225.72*	108,400 points	$350.72*
Melbourne – London	55,200 points	$252.10*	144,600 points	$462.10*

*One-way fares. TFCC correct as at 11/10, for travel in February 2022

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KLM operating direct flights to 162 destinations this winter

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 20, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 20, 2021 – KLM’s new winter schedule goes into effect on 31 October and is valid until 26 March 2022. As more and more travel restrictions are eased, KLM will be able to increase capacity again this winter and, as a result, plans to operate direct flights from Amsterdam to 162 different destinations, 72 intercontinental and 90 within Europe.

Intercontinental: More flights to the US, Caribbean

KLM has resumed operating services to almost its entire pre-Covid network (one destination excepted). Intercontinental flights will be operating at around 75% of capacity this winter compared to winter 2019.

Now that vaccinated European travellers will again be welcome in the United States starting 8 November, KLM will expand capacity to various US destinations. The number of flights to Atlanta, for example, will almost double to 12 a week, and there will be 11 weekly flights to New York JFK this winter. KLM will also serve Las Vegas and Miami this winter, both three times a week. Service to Minneapolis, which resumed in the summer, will also continue this winter with three weekly flights.

KLM began noticing a sharp rise in demand for travel to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands this summer. That is why the airline is also expanding capacity to the Caribbean and will double the number of flights to Curaçao to 14 a week. It will also boost daily capacity on the route to Aruba and Bonaire by deploying a Boeing 777-300ER, its largest passenger aircraft. To meet anticipated demand during the Christmas holiday season, KLM is planning three additional weekly flights to these islands, bringing the total number of weekly flights to Aruba and Bonaire to ten by the end of the year.

The KLM network is also showing signs of recovery in South America, with four flights a week to San José and Liberia in Costa Rica (up from two last winter) and daily service to Panama City. Capacity on the route to Paramaribo will also increase considerably this winter, with four weekly flights (compared to one last winter due to strict travel restrictions). KLM’s longest scheduled service, non-stop from Amsterdam to Santiago de Chile, will continue this winter with three weekly flights.

This winter will see the introduction of four entirely new destinations: Mombasa, Cancún, Port of Spain and Bridgetown. The first flight to Cancún in Mexico will take off on 2 November, with five weekly flights during the Christmas holiday season. This will bring the total number of weekly KLM flights to Mexico to 12. The first (combined) flight to Port of Spain in Trinidad & Tobago and Bridgetown in Barbados took off on 16 October and will eventually operate three times a week. Scheduled service to Mombasa in Kenya is expected to commence in early December; KLM is currently in the process of obtaining the necessary flight permits from the Kenyan authorities.

KLM’s Asian network is still hampered by travel restrictions. As a result, demand for these flights lags behind those for other regions. The demand for cargo transport to and from Asia remains high, however, allowing KLM to continue serving many of its destinations this winter season.

Europe

In Europe, KLM is meeting the sharp rise in demand for both holiday and business travel. New destinations such as Zagreb and Poznan proved popular soon after their introduction this summer and KLM plans to continue operating these services this winter. With their addition, the number of European destinations served by KLM will in fact exceed that of winter 2019.

In many cases, the number of flights to European destinations is still slightly down on pre-Covid-19 figures. KLM is operating at about 84% of its European network capacity. Even so, the airline is once again serving Europe’s major cities, including Berlin, London, Munich and Paris, at least five times a day. This makes KLM’s winter schedule, with more flights than in the summer, attractive for the growing number of European business travellers. By increasing the number of flights in Europe, KLM will once again be able to connect many European locations through Amsterdam Schiphol, boosting the airport’s status as a global hub.

“

“After more than 18 months, more and more borders are reopening and we are well on the road to recovery. KLM is delighted that we can once again offer passengers so many destinations. We look forward to doing what we do best: bringing people together. Travel is all about personal connections, and that’s what KLM stands for!”

Pieter Elbers, KLM President and CEO

Where can I fly tool

KLM appreciates how difficult it can be to plan a trip during the Covid-19 pandemic. Travel rules and restrictions are changing constantly and vary from country to country, making it more important than ever for travellers to have the most up-to-date information when planning a journey. That is why KLM is offering an interactive “Where can I fly to?” map showing current travel requirements for every country in KLM’s network. The map displays travel requirements based on travellers’ country of departure and vaccination status, so they can choose their next destination at a glance.

In addition to this service, KLM advises Dutch travellers to consult www.wijsopreis.nl for up-to-date travel advisories issued by the Dutch government.

KLM: Outstanding hygiene standards, flexible bookings and five stars from passengers

KLM sets the highest possible standards for hygiene before, during and after flights. It has been awarded the APEX Health Safety Diamond Award and the Skytrax COVID-19 Airline Excellence Award, recognition of its industry leadership in hygiene and health safety.

KLM also offers customers maximum flexibility when it comes to booking, changing or cancelling trips. Yet another feather in KLM’s cap is that it has retained its five-star APEX product and service rating, based on evaluations by passengers worldwide.

At the moment, the destinations, flights and capacities described above are valid for the months of November and December. Given the many travel restrictions that remain and their unpredictability, changes may be necessary from January onwards.

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Ryanair Launches New Route From Edinburgh To Marrakesh

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 20, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 20, 2021 – Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (19^th Oct) announced a new route – Edinburgh to Marrakesh, operating twice weekly from 18^th December. As travel recovers to pre-Covid levels, Ryanair’s growth continues to lead traffic and tourism recovery across Europe.

To celebrate, Ryanair has launched a £19.99 seat sale for travel until the end of March ‘22, which must be booked by midnight Thursday, 21^st October 2021 on www.Ryanair.com – the perfect excuse for a well-deserved getaway with family or friends.

Ryanair’s Director of Commercial, Jason Mc Guinness, said:

“As Europe’s No.1 airline, Ryanair remains committed to re-building Europe’s aviation and tourism industry by restoring connectivity and growing its network of passengers to over 225 million by 2026. As Ryanair takes delivery of 55 additional Boeing 737-8200 ‘Gamechanger’ aircraft this winter, we are delighted to add this new route from Edinburgh to Marrakesh.

We are launching a seat sale to celebrate this new route to Marrakesh, with fares available for just £19.99 for travel until the end of March ’22, which must be booked by midnight Thursday, 21^st October 2021 on the Ryanair.com website.

As consumer confidence in air travel steadily restores, Ryanair is once again calling on the UK Government to scrap or suspend APD (Air Passenger Duty) to allow airlines quickly recover connectivity, jobs and tourism in the aftermath of the pandemic. APD makes UK airports very uncompetitive compared to those in Europe, while Ryanair continues to add capacity having opened several new bases in recent months, including Agadir, Billund, Riga, Stockholm, Turin and Zagreb. While Ryanair is committed to the UK and to Edinburgh airport, the lack of Government support continues to create barriers to boosting traffic and growth.”

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Loyalty schemes entice flyers

Written by Gill Dewar on October 19, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

As more countries open up their borders, and air travel becomes more accessible, some airlines are ramping up their frequent-flyer programmes to entice their clients back on board.

Jeffrey Harrison, Marketing Manager SA of Lufthansa Group, says air traffic and the travel industry have been affected on an unprecedented scale and, with it, all travellers are affected.

“We are doing our best to adapt our services and offers to the circumstances. For the most loyal members who may not have been able to earn the necessary points lately to renew their status, Miles & More offers a range of promotions and goodwill measures to its frequent flyers.”

Lufthansa has extended its Miles & More status renewal to all members, says Harrison. “If you didn’t or don’t manage to renew your status in 2020 and 2021, we will renew your status for one year until February 2023. If you achieve your status renewal by the end of 2021 as normal, your status will, of course, remain valid until February 2024. We’ll help you to do so this year with further promotions to reward your flight activities with additional HON Circle miles, and the validity of your status will be adjusted automatically until the beginning of February 2022.”

Relaunched SAA is offering a Voyager double miles promotion and extension of the validity of Voyager miles.

The airline will extend the validity of Voyager miles that are due to expire on March 31, 2022 until March 31, 2023. Simon Newton-Smith, SAA’s Interim Executive: Commercial, says the airline is looking at incentives based on Voyager miles. “We are looking to make the Voyager mile programme more flexible, and are trying to find ways to be more creative.”

Delta Air Lines CEO, Ed Bastian, in a recent letter to SkyMiles members, outlined actions, resources and policies the airline is putting in place to address challenges customers have been facing as they return to travel. Medallion Members who are currently earning status by travelling in 2021 will receive elevated benefits for the 2022 Medallion year. Delta is also extending the ability for award travel on Delta to count toward tier status until December 31, 2022. All SkyMiles members will continue to earn at an accelerated rate on most tickets until December 31, 2021.

“After an unprecedented year, we are thrilled to see so many of our loyal members back in the skies and reuniting with loved ones.”

Members of British Airways Executive Club, whose point collection renewal date is between January and March 2022, will receive another year of their current status. BA’s press office confirmed that no member would lose their tier status, regardless of how many tier points they had earned. The airline has also applied a 25% reduction in the thresholds to achieve various tiers until June 2022: 225 tier points for bronze, 450 for silver and 1 125 for gold.

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Brussels Airport to offer 130 destinations this winter

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 19, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 19, 2021 – The 52 airlines that operate from Brussels Airport will serve a network of 130 European and intercontinental destinations, including several new destinations.

4 new destinations, 6 new routes

In addition to the traditionally popular destinations such as Madrid, Barcelona and Geneva, several new destinations are added to the offer. TUI fly will add Havana (Cuba) to its catalogue, while Transavia will fly to the Austrian ski resort Innsbruck. Air Belgium, which has started to operate from Brussels Airport a few days ago, has been flying between Brussels and Mauritius twice a week since 15 October. And from 15 December, the Belgian airline will connect Brussels Airport to Curaçao via Punta Cana, which is also served by TUI fly.

With several new routes departing from Brussels Airport, the capacity to certain destinations will increase: Corendon Airlines will now serve Antalya (Turkey), Las Palmas, Tenerife (Canary Islands) and Hurghada (Egypt). Brussels Airlines will also fly to Kiev (Ukraine).

Resumed flights and increased frequencies

Many airlines had to suspend flights to certain destinations during the Covid crisis. With the arrival of the winter season and the lifting of travel restrictions, several destinations are returning to Brussels Airport’s offer, such as Bangkok (Thai Airways International), Egypt (TUI fly, Brussels Airlines and Corendon Airlines), the Cape Verde Islands (TUI Fly) and Pisa (Ryanair).

Other airlines are upping the frequency to some intercontinental destinations. Air Canada will now operate a daily service to Montreal. Emirates will carry passengers from Brussels Airport to Dubai 10 times a week. And ANA will increase its service to Tokyo to two flights a week.

A great choice of destinations for all tastes!

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Iberia offers 70 weekly flights to the United States

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 19, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 19. 2021 – Iberia now flies to New York, Miami, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles

The airline has launched an offer to travel to these destinations from 111 euros each way.

Iberia is betting on reactivating connections and, for the winter season that begins on October 31, it has scheduled 70 weekly flights between Spain and the United States, to the same destinations it operated before. from the start of the pandemic throughout the year.

Specifically, the airline will offer 10 weekly flights to New York and another 10 to Miami in each direction; Chicago will have five flights a week, and Boston and Los Angeles with three other weekly frequencies. The offer is completed with four weekly flights to San Juan de Puerto Rico, a destination that is also part of the joint business agreement for routes between Europe and the North Atlantic that Iberia maintains together with American Airlines, British Airways and Finnair.

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Wizz Air launches first ever flight subscription in Europe

WIZZ air announces major expansion of its operations in Ukraine

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 19, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 19, 2021 -MORE THAN DOUBLING CAPACITY TO OFFER THE MOST SEATS OF ANY AIRLINE FROM THE UKRAINE

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and a leading low-cost airline in Ukraine, announces today its major expansion in the Ukrainian market, with a doubling of capacity. This expansion comes as a result of Ukraine signing the Open Skies agreement with the EU yesterday, on 12 October 2021.

The airline announces allocation of 5 new modern, state-of-the-art to its base at Kyiv International Airport. The new Airbus 321 aircraft will join the fleet from the beginning of summer season. With this investment, Wizz Air is more than doubling the airline’s capacity at Kyiv International Airport offering passengers 12 new routes from Kyiv to the long-awaited destinations, such as Paris Beauvais, Brussels-Charleroi, Eindhoven, Nice, Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Malaga, Porto, Palma De Mallorca, Chania-Crete, and Basel Mulhouse Freiburg.

Furthermore, Wizz Air also announces the allocation of 2 new Airbus 321 aircraft at its Lviv base starting from the summer season as well. The new aircraft will support operations of 9 new routes to Paris Beauvais, Madrid, Eindhoven, Barcelona, Brussels-Charleroi, Nice, Treviso, Athens, and Thessaloniki.

With these new allocations, Wizz Air more than doubles its capacity in the Ukraine, and increases its fleet to 8 aircraft in Kyiv International Airport and to 3 aircraft in Lviv International Airport. In addition, the airline will also invest to bring more travel opportunities for passengers traveling from Odesa and Kharkiv, as the airline is adding new routes from Odesa to London Luton, Pardubice, Athens, and from Kharkiv to Thessaloniki and Pardubice. Moreover, Wizz Air expands the frequency of 25 routes already operated from the Ukraine. .

Seats for all routes are already available on wizzair.com or on the airline’s app for fares as low as UAH 809 / EUR 24.99*

This large-scale expansion of WIZZ operations in Ukraine will enable the airline to achieve 120% growth in summer season 2022. This will make Wizz Air the largest airline providing direct seats from the Ukraine. The newly allocated capacity of over 1,4 million seats per year will further contribute to the Ukrainian aviation market and to the creation of over 288 new direct jobs with Wizz Air further supporting 1050 additional local jobs in associated industries .

Wizz Air started operations in Ukraine in 2008 and since then the airline has carried over 11 million passengers in Ukraine. By basing new aircraft at its Kyiv and Lviv bases and commencing new services, Wizz Air further underlines its commitment to Ukrainian market, bringing truly affordable air travel services to even more travellers. With today’s announcement, WIZZ brings more all-time favourite European destinations even closer to passengers from Ukraine, offering in total 117 routes to 21 countries from 6 Ukrainian airports.

Speaking at the press conference in Kyiv, Robert Carey, President of Wizz Air Group said: “Today marks a major expansion of Wizz Air in the Ukraine and brings great news for Ukrainian travellers, as well as those who wish to visit the country. Thanks to the new EU Open Skies agreement, we are delighted to announce that we will more than double our capacity to the Ukraine, with the addition of 5 new aircraft to our base in Kyiv and 2 new aircraft in Lviv. These additional aircraft will allow us to launch 26 new routes from Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Kharkov and increase frequencies on 25 existing routes from the Ukraine. In total, Wizz Air will operate 117 routes to 22 countries from the Ukraine, including 11 total based aircraft. Committed to the Ukrainian market, more based aircraft and more low fare routes mean more jobs, and more support to ramp up tourism in Ukraine. In addition to giving more Ukrainians the chance to travel thanks to our low fares, this investment will further stimulate the local economy, and the aviation and tourism sectors.

We look forward to welcoming more passengers on board our modern aircraft with great service.”

Denys Kostrzhevsky, Head of the Board of Directors of the “Kyiv” International Airport, added: “Wizz Air has been our strategic partner for many years. Today’s news is another testament to our strong relationship. We are glad together with Ukrainian citizens that from now on they will have even more opportunities to travel from IEV. And we will continue to care about the best and more comfortable service for our passengers.”

Wizz Air was one of the first airlines to introduce a new era of sanitized travel, with enhanced hygiene measures to ensure the health and safety of passengers and crew across its network. Click here to view Wizz Air’s health and safety video.

By adding WIZZ Flex to a booking, passengers can rest assured that if circumstances change, or they simply wish to travel on a different date or to a different destination, that they will be able to rebook on any WIZZ flight of their choice. This provides an extra layer of protection and peace of mind for passenger bookings during these uncertain times.

WIZZ AIR’S NEWEST ROUTES FROM UKRAINE

DESTINATION	DAYS	LOWEST FARE*	STARTS
KYIV – PARIS BEAUVAIS	Monday, Friday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		17 December 2021
KYIV – BRUSSELS-CHARLEROI	Wednesday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		19 December 2021
KYIV- EINDHOVEN	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		18 December 2021
KYIV – NICE	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		3 May 2022
KYIV-BARCELONA	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday From 1 August 2022 – Daily	969 UAH / 29.99 EUR		27 March 2022
KYIV – MADRID	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday From 1 July 2022 – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	969 UAH / 29.99 EUR		3 May 2022
KYIV-ALICANTE	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 July 2022
KYIV – MALAGA	Monday, Friday From 3 july 2022 – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	969 UAH / 29.99 EUR		2 May 2022
KYIV – PORTO	Monday, Friday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		1 July 2022
KYIV – PALMA DE MALLORCA	Monday, Friday	969 UAH / 29.99 EUR		1 August 2022
KYIV – CHANIA-CRETE	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 August 2022
KYIV – BASEL MULHOUSE FREIBURG	Monday, Friday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		1 August 2022
LVIV – PARIS BEAUVAIS	Monday, Wednesday, Friday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		28 March 2022
LVIV – MADRID	Thursday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		27 March 2022
LVIV – EINDHOVEN	Thursday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		27 March 2022
LVIV – BARCELONA	Monday, Friday From 1 June 2022 – Monday, Wednesday, Friday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		28 March 2022
LVIV – BRUSSELS-CHARLEROI	Wednesday, Friday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		1 June 2022
LVIV – NICE	Wednesday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		1 June 2022
LVIV – TREVISO	Thursday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 June 2022
LVIV – ATHENS	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		4 June 2022
LVIV – THESSALONIKI	Thursday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 June 2022
ODESA – LONDON LUTON	Thursday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		27 March 2022
ODESA – PARDUBICE	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 July 2022
ODESA – ATHENS	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 July 2022
KHARKIV – THESSALONIKI	Tuesday, Saturday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		29 March 2022
KHARKIV – PARDUBICE	Thursday, Sunday	809 UAH / 24.99 EUR		2 June 2022

FREQUENCY INCREASES

DESTINATION	Frequency increase
KHARKIV-TALLINN	2 → 3
KYIV-ATHENS	3 → 4
KYIV-BILLUND	3 → 4
KYIV-BOLOGNA	2 → 3
KYIV-BRATISLAVA	4 → 5
KYIV-BUDAPEST	4 → 7
KYIV-ROME FIUMICINO	3 → 5
KYIV-HAMBURG	3 → 4
KYIV-LARNACA	3 → 5
KYIV-LISBON	2 → 3
KYIV-MILAN MALPENSA	3 → 4
KYIV-NAPLES	2 → 3
KYIV-NURENBERG	2 → 3
KYIV-PARDUBICE	3 → 4
KYIV-POZNAN	2 → 3
KYIV-THESSALONIKI	2 → 4
KYIV-TALLINN	5 → 7
KYIV-TREVISO	2 → 3
KYIV-VIENNA	4 → 7
LVIV-BERLIN	3 → 4
LVIV-ROME CIAMPINO	2 → 3
LVIV-MEMMINGEN	2 → 3
LVIV-LARNACA	2 → 3
LVIV-NAPLES	2 → 3
LVIV-PARDUBICE	3 → 4

* One-way price, including administration fee. One carry-on bag (max: 40x30x20cm) is included. Trolley bag and each piece of checked-in baggage is subject to additional fees. The price applies only to bookings made on wizzair.com and the WIZZ mobile app. Number of seats at indicated prices are limited.

** ACI suggests creation of 750 on-site jobs for every 1 million carried passengers per year

5 NEW AIRCRAFT BASED IN KYIV, 2 NEW AIRCRAFT BASED IN LVIV

26 NEW ROUTES FROM KYIV, LVIV, ODESA AND KHARKIV

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Delta to launch new Los Angeles, New York and Orlando flights to Panama

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 18, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 18, 2021 – Delta to launch new Los Angeles, New York and Orlando flights to Panama

Delta will launch new nonstop flights to Panama City, Panama (PTY), from Los Angeles and Orlando on Dec. 18, and from New York-JFK on Dec. 20. Delta will also add a second Saturday flight from Atlanta on Dec. 18.

Launching new Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), and Orlando (MCO) service to Panama City in December 2021, plus additional flight from Atlanta (ATL)
New flights and increased service grows Delta’s capacity to Panama by 80% since December 2019

Delta will launch new nonstop flights to Panama City, Panama (PTY), from Los Angeles and Orlando on Dec. 18, and from New York-JFK on Dec. 20. Delta will also add a second Saturday flight from Atlanta on Dec. 18.

In total, Delta will offer 13 weekly flights between four U.S. cities and Panama this winter, the most we’ve operated to the country since launching flights in 1998.

“From its breathtaking beaches and vibrant culture to its competitive economy in Latin America, Panama is a highly sought destination for business and leisure travelers alike,” said Luciano Macagno, Delta’s Managing Director – Latin America, Caribbean and South Florida. “With our new direct flights from our L.A. and JFK hubs that offer significant U.S. connectivity, as well as the demand from the local Orlando community, we’re looking forward to introducing Delta’s signature hospitality and exceptional onboard experience to more customers planning their next trip.”

Customers transiting through LAX can connect to 48 U.S. cities, while JFK offers flights to 46 U.S. cities. At LAX, Delta is investing $1.86 billion to modernize and upgrade Terminals 2 and 3 and connect them to the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The central head house is set to open in Q1 2022. Additionally, the Delta-funded JFK Terminal 4 redevelopment program will make JFK travel more convenient for customers by summer 2023 – with 10 new gates, an additional domestic baggage claim carousel and the consolidation of all of Delta’s JFK operations into Terminal 4.

New L.A. and Orlando service – Delta’s only international flight at MCO – will both operate once-weekly on the 199-seat Boeing 757 aircraft and the 180-seat Boeing 737-900, respectively. New JFK service will operate on the 160-seat Boeing 737-800 three times per week, increasing to four times in March 2022.

In addition to Main Cabin, all aircraft offer a spacious First Class cabin and extra legroom in Delta Comfort+. All customers will enjoy in-seat power outlets for their devices, Wi-Fi available for purchase and free mobile messaging, and personal seat-back entertainment screens featuring a wealth of premium content, including curated playlists and podcasts from Delta’s partnership with Spotify.

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Air Canada Unveils Plans For Its Summer 2022 Schedule To Europe, Africa, The Middle East and India

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 15, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 15, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada today unveiled its planned Summer 2022 schedule for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. In addition to its established year-round services, the airline announced its return to key summer seasonal destinations such as Barcelona, Venice, Nice, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Reykjavik.

Airline to offer seasonal services to nearly 30 destinations across the Atlantic Ocean
Plans to resume year-round service to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Lyon, Madrid, and Milan

Seasonal services to Athens, Rome and Lisbon resumed in 2021 and will return next spring, alongside Air Canada’s recently launched service to Cairo.

“As we continue to rebuild our global network, Air Canada is excited to plan its return to these popular leisure destinations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, offering its customers to explore the world again, said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada. “Our schedule will enable convenient onward travel through our Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary hubs to and from our global destinations. Start planning ahead and book with confidence. We are sincerely looking forward to welcoming you onboard.”

Summer 2022 destinations (with planned start dates):

Year-round

Summer seasonal

Amsterdam (December 2021)

Brussels

Casablanca

Copenhagen (May 2022)

Doha

Dubai

Dublin

Frankfurt

Geneva

London

Lyon (December 2021)

Madrid (April 2022)

Milan (May 2022)

Munich

Delhi

Paris

Tel Aviv

Vienna

Zurich

Athens (April 2022)

Barcelona (March 2022)

Cairo (May 2022)

Edinburgh (June 2022)

Lisbon (March 2022)

Manchester (June 2022)

Nice (May 2022)

Reykjavik (June 2022)

Rome (March 2022)

Venice (April 2022)

Additional service resumptions or expansions will be announced in the future. Schedule may be adjusted as required based on the COVID-19 trajectory and government restrictions.

Travel Policy: Book with confidence

Air Canada’s new refund policy is applicable to all tickets purchased. It offers customers the option of a full refund to the original form of payment, an Air Canada Travel Voucher or the equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours.

To book your next trip and for most updated schedule, visit aircanada.com

Are you travelling abroad?

Check our Travel Ready Hub for the most recent government entry requirements. Passengers are responsible for making sure they meet all government entry requirements. In particular, they will need to have all required travel documents, visas and health certificates and comply with all other entry criteria that apply to the flights for which they have purchased tickets. Government requirements may change at short notice.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline, and in 2019 was among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is Canada’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. In 2020, Air Canada was named Global Traveler’s Best Airline in North America for the second straight year. In January 2021, Air Canada received APEX’s Diamond Status Certification for the Air Canada CleanCare+ biosafety program for managing COVID-19, the only airline in Canada to attain the highest APEX ranking. Air Canada has also committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow Air Canada on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join Air Canada on Facebook.

Sign up for Air Canada news: aircanada.com

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PLAY Airlines unveils exciting schedule through 2026

QANTAS BRINGS FORWARD INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO 1 NOVEMBER

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 15, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Airline.

October 15, 2021 – Qantas will bring forward the restart of its international flights by two weeks to 1 November 2021 after the Federal and New South Wales governments today confirmed borders will now reopen on that date.

The national carrier has also welcomed the decision by the NSW Government to remove quarantine arrangements for fully vaccinated arrivals, which is in line with many countries around the world.

Qantas will operate up to five return flights a week from Sydney to London and up to four return flights a week from Sydney to Los Angeles with its Boeing 787 Dreamliners from 1 November. More flights will be added to meet demand, if needed. Flights to London will operate via Darwin until at least April 2022.

These initial flights are limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and parents in line with Australian Government requirements.

Flights to other destinations including Singapore, Fiji and Vancouver are still scheduled to commence from 18 December 2021 with other destinations to restart in the new year – however, in light of the shift to remove quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers arriving in New South Wales, the Qantas Group is looking at bringing forward some additional destinations from Sydney if possible.

Flights from 1 November are now on sale. Passengers who have already booked to travel to and from Los Angeles or London and want to travel earlier can make a fee-free date change to their flight on the ‘manage my booking’ section of qantas.com (a fare difference may apply).

CEO COMMENTS

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “Bringing forward the reopening of Australia to the world and removing quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers entering New South Wales is a massive step towards life as we knew it.

“In just a little over two weeks, Australians around the world can fly into Sydney and people from around Australia can leave on trips they’ve been waiting almost two years to take. We hope other states will do the same once they reach the 80 per cent target.

“We have thousands of our pilots and cabin crew wanting to get back to work and they will be thrilled at today’s announcement. It will still be a long time before international travel returns to normal but this is a fantastic start

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United Plans Largest Transatlantic Expansion in its History, Including 10 New Flights and Five New Destinations Debuting Summer 2022

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 15, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 15, 2021, Airline sets course to destinations not served by any other North American carrier in Amman, Jordan; Azores, Portugal; Bergen, Norway; Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Tenerife, Spain

United today announced the largest transatlantic expansion in its history, including 10 new flights and five new, vogue destinations – Amman, Jordan; Bergen, Norway; Azores, Portugal; Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands. All of the new routes – which are set to begin in Spring 2022 – are not served by any other North American carrier. Additionally, next year, United will add new flights to five popular European destinations: Berlin, Dublin, Milan, Munich and Rome. Lastly, United will launch seven routes that were interrupted due to the pandemic to Bangalore, Frankfurt, Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Nice and Zurich. Flights are subject to government approval.

“Given our big expectations for a rebound in travel to Europe for summer, this is the right time to leverage our leading global network in new, exciting ways,” said Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international network and alliances at United. “Our expansion offers the widest range of destinations to discover – introducing new, trendy locales that our customers will love, as well as adding more flights to iconic, popular cities.”

Amman, Jordan

United will begin new capital to capital service between Washington, D.C. and Amman, Jordan starting May 5. Customers will be able to explore the numerous historical sites in and around Amman, as well as visit Jordan’s other top destinations including Petra, the Dead Sea and the Wadi Rum desert. United will be the only North American carrier flying direct to Amman with service three times weekly with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

United will add a third Portuguese destination to its global network with brand new flights between New York/Newark and Ponta Delgada in the Azores beginning May 13. The carrier will offer the most flights between the U.S. and Portugal of any North American airline and will be the only airline to fly to the Azores from the New York metro area. This daily service joins United’s existing flights to Porto, which will return in March, and Lisbon, which the airline is currently operating from New York/Newark and will resume from Washington, D.C. next summer. United will fly a brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft featuring United’s new signature interior with enhanced seat back entertainment with Bluetooth connectivity and overhead bin space for every customer.

Bergen, Norway

Beginning May 20, United will become the only U.S. carrier to fly to Norway with flights launching between New York/Newark and Bergen. United will offer three times weekly service on a Boeing 757-200, allowing customers to experience Bergen’s surrounding mountainous landscape and breathtaking fjords. United will be the only carrier to fly to Bergen from the U.S.

Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

United is expanding its Spanish beach getaway destinations with three times weekly flights between New York/Newark and Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, launching June 2 with a Boeing 767-300ER. This will be the first and only flight between the U.S. and Mallorca and will add to United’s existing service to Madrid and Barcelona.

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Travelers looking for an additional new beach destination can enjoy the stunning black and white sand beaches of Spain’s Canary Islands with United’s new flight from New York/Newark to Tenerife. United will be the only airline to fly direct between the Canary Islands and North America with three-times weekly service launching June 9 with a Boeing 757-200. Along with the new service to Palma de Mallorca, United will fly to more Spanish destinations from North America than any other airline.

Expanded European Service

United is also adding flights to some of Europe’s most iconic cities in anticipation of a resurgence in visitors. Next spring United will add:

New daily flights between Denver and Munich – joining existing service from Denver to Frankfurt and London which is expected to resume in March. United is the only U.S. airline to offer transatlantic service from Denver.
New daily flights between Chicago and Milan, joining existing seasonal flights between Chicago and Rome. United will be the only airline to offer a direct flight between Chicago and Milan, adding to its existing service between New York/Newark and Milan.
New daily capital to capital service between Washington, D.C. and Berlin, joining our other service to Berlin from New York/Newark. United is the only U.S. airline with direct flights to Berlin.
An additional daily flight from New York/Newark to Dublin and Rome.

In addition to these new routes, United will begin seven routes that were interrupted by the pandemic:

Daily flights between San Francisco and Bangalore beginning May 26
Daily flights between New York/Newark and Nice beginning April 29
A second daily flight between New York/Newark and Frankfurt beginning April 23
Daily flights between Chicago and Zurich beginning April 23
Flights from Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York/Newark to Tokyo’s Haneda airport by March 26

Committed to Ensuring a Safe Journey

United is committed to putting health and safety at the forefront of every customer’s journey, with the goal of delivering an industry-leading standard of cleanliness through its United CleanPlus^SM program. United has teamed up with Clorox and Cleveland Clinic to redefine cleaning and health safety procedures from check-in to landing and has implemented more than a dozen new policies, protocols and innovations designed with the safety of customers and employees in mind. To manage entry requirements in different destinations, and find places to get tests, customer can visit United’s Travel Ready Center.

United Next

United is more focused than ever on its commitment to customers and employees. In addition to today’s announcement, United has recently:

Launched an ambitious plan to transform the United customer experience by adding and upgrading hundreds of aircraft as well as investing in features like larger overhead bins, seatback entertainment in every seat and the industry’s fastest available Wi-Fi.
Announced a goal to create 25,000 unionized jobs by 2026 that includes careers as pilots, flight attendants, agents, technicians, and dispatchers.
Announced that United will train at least 5,000 pilots by 2030 through the United Aviate Academy, with the plan of at least half being women and people of color.
Required all U.S. employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Became the first airline to offer customers the ability to check their destination’s travel requirements, schedule COVID-19 tests and more on its mobile app and website.
Invested in emerging technologies that are designed to decarbonize air travel, like an agreement to work with urban air mobility company Archer, an investment in aircraft startup Heart Aerospace and a purchase agreement with Boom Supersonic.
Committed to going 100% green by 2050 by reducing 100% of our greenhouse gas emissions without relying on traditional carbon offsets, including a recent agreement to purchase one and a half times the amount of all of the rest of the world’s airlines’ publicly announced Sustainable Aviation Fuel commitments combined.
Eliminated change fees for all economy and premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S.

About United

United’s shared purpose is “Connecting People. Uniting the World.” In 2019, United and United Express® carriers operated more than 1.7 million flights carrying more than 162 million customers. United has the most comprehensive route network among North American carriers, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. For more about how to join the United team, please visit united.com/careers and more information about the company is at united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

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Air Astana returns to Thailand as market reopens

Written by Gill Dewar on October 14, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

Air Astana continues to expand its international network, with the launch of twice weekly direct flights from Almaty to the tropical island of Phuket in Thailand.

The flight will take off on October 31st 2021.

The news comes as the destination begins to reopen its tourism sector in the wake of Covid-19.

Service frequencies to Dubai are also being boosted to a total of ten flights a week, including three flights a week from Almaty starting on October 23rd and daily flights from Nur-Sultan starting from November 1st.

Earlier in October, Air Astana resumed its services to St Petersburg with a weekly flight from Nur-Sultan and has increased services to Moscow with daily flights from Almaty and five flights per week from Nur-Sultan.

The airline also increased the frequency of flights to Istanbul to three services a week from Nur-Sultan and five services a week from Almaty.

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Air Canada Expands Capacity from Eastern Canada to India; Launches New Non-Stop Service from Montreal to Delhi

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 14, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 14, 2021 – Toronto service is increasing from daily to 10x weekly

Route from Montreal begins October 31 with three flights a week

MONTREAL, Oct. 13, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada announced today a strategic expansion of its India services, with additional flights from Toronto, and a new year-round, non-stop route between Montreal and Delhi. Starting October 31, just in time for Diwali celebrations, Air Canada will offer three flights per week to the growing Indian community in Montreal. Additionally, the airline is increasing frequency to Delhi from Toronto to ten flights per week beginning Oct. 15. All flights will be operated with Air Canada’s most modern aircraft, the 298-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring a choice of three cabins of service: Air Canada Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy class.

“The Canada–India market is an important and strategic one for Air Canada. These additional flights and new route demonstrate Air Canada’s anticipation about the promise and growth of the Indian subcontinent– and we also look forward to further strengthening the cultural and business ties between our two countries,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada. “Today’s announcement also confirms Air Canada’s commitment to growing its main hubs of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, with convenient non-stop service to India from each hub. Air Canada is the only carrier offering a direct service to Delhi out of Montreal, allowing for easy connections through our extensive network. We continue to focus on the growing visiting friends and relatives market and this capacity expansion is a response to increasing demand.”

As the leading carrier between the two countries, Air Canada offers daily flights from Vancouver, up to ten flights a week from Toronto and three flights a week from Montreal. The airline’s service to Mumbai will resume when conditions permit.

Flight	From	Departure	To	Arrival	Frequency
AC 50	Montreal	20:10	Delhi	20:00+1	Tue, Thu, Sun
AC 51	Delhi	01:55	Montreal	06:00	Tue, Thu, Sat

For details on the full schedule please visit aircanada.com

Travelling internationally? Visit our Travel Ready Hub for the latest government entry requirements. Customers are responsible for ensuring they meet all government entry requirements, including holding the correct travel documents, visas, any required health certificates, and all other eligibility requirements for any flights they purchase. Government requirements may change with little notice.

Specific requirement apply to passengers arriving on direct flights from India. For more details please visit: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/india

Travel Policy: Book with confidence

International Services

Air Canada’s international services include wide-body aircraft featuring choices of Air Canada Signature Class with lie-flat seating, Premium Economy and Economy Class. Hours of complementary inflight entertainment is available at every seat throughout the aircraft along with options to purchase onboard wi-fi.

All customers are provided with individual care kits which contain antiseptic wipes, face covering and hand sanitizer. Air Canada’s onboard services have resumed and will gradually feature new meals inspired by a panel of celebrated Canadian chefs on international flights departing Canada.

Customers can also collect and redeem Aeroplan points through Canada’s leading loyalty program when travelling with Air Canada, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounges, priority boarding and other benefits, where available. Lounges are currently open in the domestic gate areas at Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary, and at the international gate areas at Toronto, Montreal, and Paris, with additional plans to re-open other locations in due course.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline and, in 2019, was among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is Canada’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. In 2020, Air Canada was named Global Traveler’s Best Airline in North America for the second straight year. In January 2021, Air Canada received APEX’s Diamond Status Certification for the Air Canada CleanCare+ biosafety program for managing COVID-19, the only airline in Canada to attain the highest APEX ranking. Air Canada has also committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow Air Canada on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join Air Canada on Facebook.

Sign up for Air Canada news: aircanada.com

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Three weeks before inaugural flight: pent-up demand for Eurowings offer to Prague

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 14, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 14, 2021 – Germany’s largest holiday airline ready to start services from Prague on 31 October

Thousands of tickets already sold in the Czech Republic: for individuals and local tour operators
Germany’s largest vacation airline will initially offer 14 new nonstop connections from Prague for holidaymakers and business travelers
The Czech Republic’s top favorites for the current autumn/winter season: Canary Islands and southern Spain
Eurowings the first airline to return to radio and television advertising in the Czech Republic
Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof: “We offer top quality products and services at affordable prices”

Eurowings has successfully started spreading its wings in Prague: shortly after flights were available for booking, Germany’s largest holiday airline already sold thousands of tickets in the Czech Republic to private and business travelers as well as local tour operators. Eurowings will open a new base of operations in the Czech capital at the end of October 2021 and initially offer 14 new nonstop flights from Prague. The first flights will take off on 31 October from Prague to Fuerteventura and Bristol (UK).

The Czech Republic’s top favorites for the current autumn and winter season are the Canary Islands and Southern Spain. The highest Eurowings bookings from Prague to date include Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Málaga. Connections to Athens (Greece), Barcelona (Spain) and Copenhagen (Denmark) are also very popular as people remain eager to travel.

Eurowings flights can be booked from €29.99 (764 CZK) with just a few clicks on the eurowings.com website or via the Eurowings app. A local Eurowings website will shortly be launched meaning all Eurowings flights will be available for booking in the Czech language soon.

“We are very pleased that our new offers have been so well received from day one. This boosts our confidence that we have exactly made the right choice with launching our operations from such a highly attractive city like Prague,” said Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings. “Eurowings will offer Czech customers top quality products and services at affordable prices to serve the existing pent-up demand for flights,” Bischof emphasized.

Innovative new services such as customers being able to choose a free middle seat (starting at €10/254 CZK) next to them have bolstered Eurowings’ top position among the European airlines. “Customers across Europe appreciate having a little more breathing room at their seat, whether for reasons of comfort or hygiene,” said Bischof. “The empty middle seat brings a feeling of business class even to back rows and has already been booked by Czech customers several hundred times just in the last few weeks.” Eurowings is the first airline to return to radio and television advertising in the Czech Republic since the start of the pandemic. The airline will invest more than 1 million Euros (25 mio. CZK) across several advertising channels to support its market launch in Prague.

The free middle seat, super-flexible rebooking options (up to 40 minutes before departure) and all the other customer benefits Eurowings is offering do not go unrecognized. Just recently, the Lufthansa Group airline was awarded “Triple Gold” at the German Customer Awards: for best price-performance ratio, best customer service and highest customer satisfaction ratings.

TOP 5 destinations from Prague:

Tenerife
Fuerteventura
Barcelona
Málaga
Copenhagen

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AirBaltic Expands Amazing Amsterdam Flights from All 3 Baltic Capitals

airBaltic top winter destinations – Dubai, Tenerife and Lisbon and makes vaccination staff mandatory

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 14, 2021. Posted in Airline.

October 14, 2021 – Riga. The most popular airBaltic destinations for the upcoming winter season are Dubai, Tenerife and Lisbon. Overall, Paris and Berlin remain among the most popular year-round destinations of the company.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “Today travelling in Europe is once again possible, and a growing number of passengers are already planning their trips up to two months in advance and more. While offering safe flying experience, we hope to see the trend of high passenger demand continuing into the coming winter season.”

In addition, an increasing number of passengers have made reservations for winter skiing trips. Top skiing destinations include Munich, Milan or Geneva among others.

Currently airBaltic offers more than 70 direct destinations from Riga. airBaltic launched direct flights between Riga and sunny Tenerife (Spain) on September 4 and to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) on September 27.

Latvian airline airBaltic announces that it will introduce mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for its entire staff as of November 15, 2021. As vaccination rates grow across the world, the airline sees that as the fastest way out of the pandemic.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “We will go for 100% mandatory vaccination of all our staff by November 15. We are proud that already 87% of our employees are vaccinated or immune against Covid-19. airBaltic has a 5-star Covid-19 safety rating, and we aim to continue to provide the safest flying experience not only for our passengers but also for our employees.”

This decision will also ensure undisrupted operations as an increasing number of countries require proof of vaccination for air crews. As of November 15, if the employee is unable to present the relevant Covid-19 or recovery certificate, the staff member will be suspended from work without pay.

Overall, airBaltic currently employs 1 366 people, including 200 pilots and 342 cabin crew. airBaltic was among the first companies in Latvia to implement state-provided Covid-19 vaccination at the workplace.

Health and safety:

The safety and health of our passengers is airBaltic’s top priority. airBaltic has introduced strong health measures and the flight operations follow the recommendations issued by authorities. To read more about the airBaltic health measures, please visit airBaltic website: https://www.airbaltic.com/en/health-measures.

airBaltic asks its passengers to strictly follow all of the rules and regulations issued by the relevant authorities. Passengers are strongly suggested to check the travel regulations and airport restrictions on the official websites or with local embassies before travelling. Regulations are changing rapidly and vary per country, therefore passengers are asked to always make sure they have the latest information to have a smooth journey.

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New Ryanair Base At Venice Marco Polo Airport

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 14, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 14, 2021 – Ryanair, Europe and Italy’s No.1 airline, today (6^th Oct) announced its newest Italian base in Venice Marco Polo with three new Boeing 737 8-200 “Gamechanger” based aircraft, representing an investment of $300m alongside the introduction of 18 new routes (24 total) significantly enhancing Venice’s domestic & international connectivity to 12 European countries from Summer 2022.

Ryanair’s new Venice Marco Polo base will deliver:

Three new 737 “Gamechanger” based aircraft ($300m investment)
100 new direct jobs
18 new routes
24 routes in total (16 international / 8 domestic)
Over 160 departing flights per week

Ryanair’s new base at Venice Marco Polo represents our commitment to the Veneto region, where Ryanair has already opened a two aircraft base this year in Venice Treviso (operating 48 routes) and Verona Airport with today’s announcement of 2 new routes to Porto and Palma from Summer 2022. Today’s annocument further demonstrates Ryanair’s ability to rebuild the Veneto region’s tourism industry as we will now operate 86 routes from Summer 2022 at Venice Marco Polo, Venice Treviso and Verona.

With 24 routes to choose from at Venice Marco Polo, passengers can now book a well-deserved summer getaway, flying at the lowest fares to exciting destinations such as Barcelona, Gdańsk, Helsinki, Lisbon, and Stockholm. To celebrate the opening of its new Venice Marco Polo base, Ryanair has launched a seat sale with fares available from just €19.99, which must be booked by midnight Friday, 8^th October, only on the Ryanair.com website.

Ryanair’s Director of Commercial, Jason McGuinness, said:

“As Europe and Italy’s largest airline, we are delighted to open our newest Italian base at Venice Marco Polo with three new 737 “Gamechanger” aircraft, further strengthening the long-standing cooperation between Ryanair and the SAVE Group. Today’s announcement of 86 routes (20 new) for the Veneto region demonstrates Ryanair’s ability to rapidly rebuild Italian tourism.

As Ryanair takes delivery of 55 new B737 8-200 ‘Gamechanger’ aircraft this winter, we are delighted to announce that three of these will be based in Venice Marco Polo for Summer 2022, which represents a $300m investment in Venice Marco Polo Airport. These new aircraft will deliver a total of 24 destinations, including 18 new connections and 100 new jobs in an environmentally sustainable manner.

As consumer confidence returns, we call on the Italian Government to scrap the municipal tax for all Italian airports, which is damaging the competitiveness of Italian airports versus their European counterparts. The axing of this tax would facilitate a rapid recovery in Italian air traffic and jobs thanks to Ryanair’s low fares and long-term growth plan.

To celebrate our new Venice Marco Polo base, we are launching an unmissable seat sale, with prices starting from just €19.99 (available until midnight Friday, 8^th Oct). A much-deserved getaway is only a click away, so to avoid disappointment, we advise customers to act fast and book directly on www.ryanair.com before these amazing low fares are snapped up!

Camillo Bozzolo, Commercial Director Aviation SAVE Group, said:

“The activation of Ryanair’s new base in Venice strengthens the carrier’s presence in our territory, accelerating the resumption of traffic started at the beginning of June with the opening of the Treviso base. For the SAVE Group, this represents confirmation of the centrality of the airports managed in the development strategies of the main carriers, which will speed up the recovery of pre-pandemic traffic volumes.

Thanks to the 3 aircraft that will be based at Marco Polo, the offer of outgoing destinations aimed at our catchment area will expand, thus connecting more and more niche destinations that will enrich the network of destinations served by the airport.”

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SIA Launches Seasonal Flights To Seattle And Vancouver, Adds San Francisco To Vaccinated Travel Lane Network

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 13, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 13, 2021 – Singapore Airlines (SIA) is launching four-times weekly seasonal services to Vancouver, Canada and Seattle, the United States of America (USA), from 2 December 2021 to 15 February 2022. Two of the weekly Seattle-Vancouver-Singapore flights will operate as Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) services, providing eligible customers quarantine-free entry into Singapore.

SIA is also converting its daily non-stop services from San Francisco, USA, to Singapore, to designated VTL services from Wednesday, 20 October 2021.

These provide additional quarantine-free travel options for customers who wish to travel to and from North America, on top of the earlier announced VTL services from Los Angeles and New York.

Ms JoAnn Tan, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines said: “With the new Singapore-Vancouver-Seattle flights and the conversion of San Francisco-Singapore to a VTL service, SIA customers can enjoy even more seamless travel options to North America during the year-end holiday season. SIA will continue to monitor the demand for air travel, and adjust its services accordingly.”

SIA will deploy the 253-seater Airbus A350-900, with 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats and 187 Economy Class seats, on the Singapore-Vancouver-Seattle service.

Flight SQ28 will depart from Singapore at 0915hrs, arrive at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at 0730hrs, and depart Vancouver at 0840hrs before arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at 0930hrs.

Flight SQ29, SIA’s twice-weekly designated VTL service, will depart from Seattle at 1100hrs, arrive at Vancouver at 1145hrs on the same day, depart from Vancouver at 1315hrs, and arrive in Singapore at 2205hrs the following day. Customers who fly on SQ29 must ensure that they meet all applicable VTL eligibility criteria.

SIA will also operate SQ27, a twice-weekly Seattle-Vancouver-Singapore service that is not a designated VTL flight. This would cater to customers who are ineligible to enter Singapore under the VTL arrangement.

Tickets for the Singapore-Vancouver-Seattle service will be made available for sale through various distribution channels from 12 October 2021, 1200hrs (SGT).

On the San Francisco service, flight SQ34 departs Singapore at 1840hrs and arrives at 1905hrs. The return flight SQ33 departs San Francisco at 2205hrs and arrives in Singapore at 0545hrs two days later¹ . For this service, SIA operates the 161-seat Airbus A350-900 ULR with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats.

Tickets for the San Francisco-Singapore flights are available for sale. Customers who wish to travel on the VTL services should note that Vaccinated Travel Pass applications open on 12 October 2021. They must also ensure that they are eligible to travel under the VTL arrangements before their flight.

The addition of San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver expands the SIA Group’s VTL network to 17 cities. SIA will operate VTL services from Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris, and Rome from 19 October 2021, and Seoul from 16 November 2021. These are on top of the existing VTL services from Bandar Seri Begawan, Frankfurt, and Munich. Scoot, SIA’s sister airline, will begin VTL flights from Berlin from 20 October 2021.

Multi-city itineraries within VTL countries are allowed if customers meet the eligibility criteria. Customers travelling on the VTL flights also enjoy fuss-free transfers via Singapore Changi Airport to 59 destinations within the SIA Group network. For more information on SIA’s VTL services, please click here.

Details of the flight schedules can be found in Annexe A. All times stated in this press release and Annexe are local.

_____________________________________

¹Please note that the flight timings will change with effect from 31 October 2021. Please refer to Annexe A for the details.

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Ethiopian Airlines Unveils ‘My Sheba Space’

Written by Gill Dewar on October 13, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

Ethiopian Airlines Group has unveiled new digital option dubbed My Sheba Space that enables economy class travellers to purchase one or more empty seats on board to get extra space and relax.

Ethiopian has responded to COVID 19 pandemic by introducing passenger safety guidelines implementing social distancing and sanitisation measures in its ultra-modern Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and within the aircraft. Reducing aircraft capacity and introduction of end-to-end passenger journey are among the initiatives Ethiopian has taken in its continued pursuit for elevated customer experience.

Remarking on MyShebaSpace, Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO, Ethiopian Group said, “With our agility in customer centric service offering and market responsiveness comes the need to provide convenience to those who need it. MyShebaSpace is introduced to allow esteemed clients who prefer to secure extra space and enjoy comfort while in economy class cabin. Whatever we do to make people comfortable flying again is a manifestation of our desire to stay up, to offer better and be at the fore. We believe that our customers will enjoy the feeling of being in control of their journey.”

With bundled on-demand services and predictive intelligence, MyShebaSpace will offer extra space with a reasonable top up starting from $30. MyShebaSpace is not just about letting passengers pay extra to guarantee an empty seat next to them, it is about the airlines unwavering commitment to offer diversified options in line with changing customers’ demand.

MyShebaSpace requires a 72-hour window before flight time to secure extra seat and is accessible on Ethiopian website and mobile app for convenience.

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IATA Travel Pass Adds Six More airlines

Written by Traveltalksteam on October 13, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

October 13, 2021 – Etihad Airways, Jazeera Airways, Jetstar, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian have announced that they will be implementing the IATA Travel Pass in a phased rollout across their networks.

The five carriers join Emirates Airline as IATA Travel Pass implementation pioneers.

IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh said that: “After months of testing, IATA Travel Pass is now entering the operational phase. The app has proven itself to be an effective tool to manage the complex mess of travel health credentials that governments require. And it’s a great vote of confidence that some of the world’s best known airline brands will be making it available to their customers over the coming months.”

IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that can receive and verify a range of COVID-19 test results and digital vaccines certificates. Currently vaccine certificates from 52 countries (representing the source of 56% of global air travel) can be managed using the app. This will increase to 74 countries, representing 85% of global traffic, by the end of November.

Go to www.iata.org for more.

Download of IATA Travel Pass app

The IATA Travel Pass app is now available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play but travelers will not be able to use it unless their airline is part of a trial. If your airline is participating in one of these trials, they can provide you with instructions on how to use IATA Travel Pass.

Join the IATA Travel Pass Initiative

Please complete this form if you are an airline or a laboratory and you would like to join the IATA Travel Pass initiative.

How it helps?

The IATA Travel Pass provides:

Governments with the means to verify the authenticity of tests or vaccinations and the identity of those presenting their certificates.
Airlines with the ability to provide accurate information to their passengers on test requirements and verify that a passenger meets the requirements for travel.
Laboratories with the means to issue certificates to passengers that will be recognized by governments, and
Travelers with accurate information on test requirements, where they can get tested or vaccinated, and the means to securely convey the results/certificates to airlines and border authorities

How it works?

IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that helps travelers to store and manage their verified certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. It is more secure and efficient than current paper processes used to manage health requirements (the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, for example). This is important given the potentially enormous scale of testing or vaccine verifications that will need to be securely managed.

IATA Travel Pass Initiative

To re-open borders without quarantine and restart aviation governments need to be confident that they are effectively mitigating the risk of importing COVID-19. This means having accurate information on passengers’ COVID-19 health status.

Informing passengers on what tests, vaccines and other measures they require prior to travel, details on where they can get tested and giving them the ability to share their tests and vaccination results in a verifiable, safe and privacy-protecting manner is the key to giving governments the confidence to open borders.

To address this challenge IATA has launched IATA Travel Pass.

IATA Travel Pass consists of four key modules:

MODULES	FUNCTIONALITIES
Registry of Health Requirements	Enables passengers to find information on travel, testing and vaccine requirements for their journey Powered by IATA Timatic
Registry of testing/vaccination centers	Enables passengers to find testing centers and labs at their departure and/or arrival location that can conduct COVID-19 tests in accordance with the type of test required for their journey
Lab App	Enables authorized labs and test centers to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers
Travel PASS App	Enables passengers to (1) create a ‘digital passport’, (2) verify their test/vaccination meets the regulations & (3) shares test or vaccination certificates with authorities to facilitate travel. Can be used by travelers to manage travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.

Posted in Airlines, COVID-19, News

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