A220 Corporate Cabin Concept Takes the Award for “Best Private Jet Design/Concept” at the International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2021

31 August 2021

British Columbia, Canada: Camber Aviation Management, a leading global provider of corporate jet cabin completion management and technical advisory services, together with its partners Pierrejean Vision and Kestrel Aviation Management have won the award for the best Private Jet Design/Concept at The International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2021 by leading interior design magazine design et al. After months of deliberation and voting, A220 Corporate Cabin Concept won the award, crowning a successful partnership that has invested over 18 months of detailed design work on this project.

At the award ceremony in Venice, Thomas Chatfield, CEO of Camber Aviation, accepted the award on behalf of all of the partners. During his speech, he said: “Business, as in life, is only truly successful when we have great partners. Camber Aviation Management was fortunate to work together with our amazing partners, Pierrejean Vision, Kestrel Aviation Management, F/List and Flying Colours. Together we created a cabin design that clearly caught the eyes of many. Thank you for recognising our hard work and vision.”

About the A220 Corporate Cabin Concept: The Bombardier C Series (now Airbus A220) was chosen as the conversion platform because it met four important standards:

• a modern, state-of-the-art technology comparable to its competitors,
• cabin volume equivalent to the Airbus A319Neo or Boeing BBJ Max7,
• exceptional take-off performance from hot, high, and short runways, and
• he ability to adapt the passenger cabin into a corporate aircraft layout

There were many objectives for the A220 Corporate Cabin Concept category. The focus was on a unique seven-zone modular cabin. Each cabin was composed of three fixed zones (entrance/galley, lavatory/wardrobe and private suite with ensuite washroom) and four variable zones.

The design had to be innovative, clearly differentiate itself from competitors, include state-of-the-art systems/materials, and provide options for cabin aesthetic customisation. The teams were tasked with reducing the overall elapsed time of cabin modification, while also reducing the weight of the cabin by at least 30% compared to legacy designs. Teams also worked hard to reduce product support costs post EIS, achieve greater reliability through utilisation of common parts, and solidify a well-thought-out production‐ready modular design.

The modular cabin concept was originally developed to simplify cabin designs and lower production/NRE costs over a large number of aircraft. This is crucial in reducing manufacturing, integration, and certification costs.

These aspects are all essential in achieving the right price point in the market while providing a bespoke and highly capable aircraft.  Critically, the customer gains the ability to customise the cabin to suit their unique requirements to reflect the true purpose of the aircraft whether for private, government or business use, or a bespoke solution for any of these.

About Camber Aviation Management:

Camber Aviation Management is a leader in creating custom-designed, unique world-class corporate and private aircraft. We deliver exceptional quality, style and service to our exclusive clientele. Each member of our team has been involved with corporate aircraft for a minimum of fifteen years and is a licenced aircraft maintenance engineer and/or holds an advanced aviation degree. Together, we have over 135 years of aviation experience that we apply to turn our client’s vision into their own corporate jet.

About the Award: Hosted by leading interior design magazine design et al and leading yacht and aviation design magazine Luxe et al, The International Yacht & Aviation Awards reward the best in design from across the globe. The International Yacht & Aviation Awards are now in their 11th year and established as a key event in the calendar. More than that however, they are the only design-focused awards for the industry. There are other events which are, of course, similar in nature, but none that have come about with the sole intention of focusing on the essential design elements of both the yacht and aviation sectors.

camberaviation.com | thedesignawards.co.uk

‘It’s pure barry!’ WestJet introduces new flights to Scotland from Toronto

Airline adds Toronto to Edinburgh to its international network and new non-stop service between Glasgow and Toronto

CALGARY, AB, Aug. 31, 2021 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced new service between Toronto and Scotland with the addition of non-stop flights to Edinburgh and Glasgow beginning in Spring 2022. Adding to the airline’s international destination map, service between Edinburgh and Toronto is set to launch on June 2, 2022, while flights between Glasgow and Toronto will begin on May 20, 2022.   

“As we continue to rebuild our international network, we’re pleased to offer our guests new options to connect via our Toronto hub for business and leisure to these incredible cities,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. “This spring, guests on both sides of the Atlantic will benefit from more choices and lower fares when travelling between Canada and Scotland.”

With the addition of Edinburgh to the airline’s international network, service between Toronto (YYZ) and Edinburgh (EDI) is set to operate three-times weekly effective June 2, 2022, while service between Toronto and Glasgow (GLA) will operate four-times weekly as of May 20, 2022.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Edinburgh to our international network and strengthening travel and tourism between our two countries,” continued Weatherill. “Whether travellers are looking to discover Edinburgh’s enchanting castles and cobbled streets or exploring the vibrance of Toronto and beyond, we’re committed to introducing new destinations and routes to our network.”

By Spring 2022, WestJet will offer service to two Scottish destinations with service from Toronto to Edinburgh and Glasgow and the resumption of flights between Halifax and Glasgow.

Details of WestJet’s new services between Toronto and Scotland:

Route	Frequency	Start date
Toronto-Glasgow	4x weekly	May 20, 2022
Toronto-Edinburgh*	3x weekly	June 2, 2022

*New WestJet destination

Additional quotes

“We are excited to see our partners at WestJet bringing these new routes to Toronto Pearson,” said Janik Reigate, Director, Strategic Customer Relationships, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “From curb to gate and back again, when you’re ready to travel, you can do so knowing that your health and safety is our top priority. You’ll notice our Healthy Airport commitment in action across all touchpoints of your airport journey, from parking, check-in and bag drop to shopping, dining and more.”

“I welcome WestJet’s commitment to Scotland and the launch of their new services to Toronto from both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports,” said Graeme Day, Minister of Transport, Scotland. “It is encouraging to see airlines develop their connectivity with Scotland at this time. Canada is an important market for Scotland, and I am sure these routes will be welcomed by both business travellers and tourists in both our countries. I also welcome the use of WestJet’s latest generation aircraft that will help minimise carbon emissions. I wish WestJet and the airports every success with these routes.” 

“We know there is huge interest in North America and Canada in particular, so welcoming a fantastic airline like WestJet to Edinburgh Airport is hugely exciting and we are glad to welcome them to Scotland’s capital,” said Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport. “People are beginning to plan those family reunions and longed for holidays so we hope new additions where possible will help to satisfy that demand, and the route will also present a great opportunity to strengthen business links. We look forward to welcoming WestJet to Edinburgh and showing off our fantastic capital city and everything else that Scotland has to offer.”

“The announcement today that WestJet will launch Toronto services direct into both Glasgow and Edinburgh in spring 2022 is hugely welcome for the recovery of Scotland’s inbound tourism markets. With Canada now a green list destination, making it easier for Canadians to visit, this adds further grounds for optimism for the return of one of Scotland’s key international markets, said Denise Hill, Head of Engagement, Visit Scotland. “VisitScotland has enjoyed a very positive partnership with WestJet in promoting their continuing Halifax to Glasgow service and we look forward to working closely with them to make these additional services a success also. With a strong latent demand for travel, these new air routes present an opportune moment for Scottish tourism businesses to re-engage with this important market.”

About WestJet 

In 25 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 23 countries, pre-pandemic.

Since the start of the pandemic the WestJet Group of Companies has built a layered framework of safety measures to ensure Canadians can continue to travel safely and responsibly through the airline’s Safety Above All promise. During this time, WestJet has maintained its status as one of the top-10 on-time airlines in North America as named by Cirium.

For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com. 

Airplane washes up on Hamilton beach after emergency landing on Lake Ontario

From Hamilton Spectator – link to source story

By Katrina Clarke, Spectator Reporter | Sun., Aug. 29, 2021

A floatplane pilot avoided disaster Saturday morning after the plane’s engine stopped midflight.

Hamilton police said a pilot called them Saturday at 11 a.m. after their plane, a Challenger II manufactured by Quad City, experienced engine failure midflight.

The pilot landed the ultralight floatplane safely, 200 to 300 metres from Van Wagner’s Beach. Waves eventually pushed it in onto shore.

A wing is removed from the Challenger II airplane after a pilot made an emergency landing on Lake Ontario Saturday. The plane washed up onto Van Wagner’s Beach. JOHN RENNISON/THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR

No injuries were reported.

Police said the Ministry of Transportation and the Transportation Safety Board had both been notified and would be investigating.

As of Saturday afternoon, the plane’s owner was still working on removing it from the beach.

People carry a second wing off the beach after the ultralight made an emergency landing Saturday. JOHN RENNISON

Porter Airlines refreshes aircraft fleet, featuring world’s lightest aircraft seat

TORONTO, Aug. 31, 2021 /CNW/ – Porter Airlines has completed the modernization of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft fleet with a series of updates ahead of its return to flying on Sept. 8. All 29 aircraft now feature the new TiSeat E2 from Expliseat, the world’s lightest aircraft seat, along with a number of other cabin enhancements.

Porter Airlines refreshes aircraft fleet, featuring world’s lightest aircraft seat (CNW Group/Porter Airlines)

The seats use a combination of composite and titanium materials, making them approximately 50% lighter than the previous seats and reducing aircraft weight by approximately 1,000 lbs. This reduces approximate annual fuel consumption by 500,000 litres and corresponding CO2 emissions by 1,200 metric tons.

Other aircraft upgrades include new carpeting, lavatory enhancements, new sideboards and updated LED lighting on all aircraft. The majority of the fleet will also have received fresh exterior paint by October.

“The TiSeat E2 combines comfort and performance with an enhanced cabin environment,” said Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Porter Airlines. “Passengers have come to expect a refined travel experience when they fly with us and our refreshed, clean, modern cabin will enhance their journey when we return to the skies on Sept. 8.”

Porter uses a 78-seat configuration with a standard 30″ seat pitch on its Dash 8-400s. The slim design of the new seats enhances overall legroom.

“Expliseat is delighted to expand its leading-edge technology solution into North America with Canada’s top-rated regional airline by Skytrax. These are very exciting times for us!,” said Benjamin Saada, CEO Expliseat.

More information on Porter’s return to service and schedule details are available at www.flyporter.com.

About Porter Airlines

Porter Airlines provides a warm and effortless approach to hospitality, restoring glamour and refinement to air travel. Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating®.

The airline currently offers flights to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Halifax, St. John’s, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, Windsor, New York (Newark), Chicago (Midway), Boston and Washington (Dulles), and has seasonal flights to Mt. Tremblant, Que., Muskoka, Ont., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Stephenville, N.L.

Visit www.flyporter.com

Sunwing returns to Québec City with weekly flights to popular sun destinations starting in November

Tour operator returns to the provincial capital and gateway for its 15th anniversary

TORONTO, Aug. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

Sunwing has announced it will be offering convenient weekly flights to ten different sun destinations this winter from Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, right in time for the holidays. The news follows on the heels of a recent survey commissioned by Sunwing which revealed that 51% of Quebec respondents plan on returning to travel within the next 12 months, with 65% interested in an all inclusive vacation and 39% expressing their intent to travel this upcoming holiday season. As part of Sunwing’s commitment to the Quebec market, flights for the 2021-2022 season from Québec City will commence on November 1, 2021 and will run weekly until April 25, 2022, with additional routes available from Montreal and Saguenay-Bagotville.

This season marks Sunwing’s 15-year anniversary with Québec City, after its first flight from the gateway took off on December 18, 2006 for La Romana in the Dominican Republic. The tour operator has a longstanding presence in the province, with two planes based for the season out of Québec City and nearly 100 airline crew. Sunwing also recently invested further in the local community by moving its Quebec headquarters into a new building in Laval that provides a home base for hundreds of employees across various divisions.

“The Québec market has been an integral part of our operations since Sunwing’s inaugural flights from the region in 2006, and our convenient flights are well loved by consumers and travel agencies alike,” commented Sam Char, Vice President for Sunwing Quebec. “By offering three Québécois gateways this season – Montreal, Quebec City and Saguenay-Bagotville – travellers will have even more options to choose from under our wing. We pride ourselves on offering frictionless travel experiences and look forward to helping make vacation dreams come true for another 15 years and beyond.”

The flight schedule from Québec City will be as follows:

• Between Québec City and Cayo Coco, Cuba, Sundays from November 7, 2021 until April 10, 2022; and Wednesdays from December 8, 2021 until April 20, 2022
• Between Québec City and Holguin, Cuba, Sundays from December 5, 2021 until April 10, 2022
• Between Québec City and Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba, Saturdays from November 6, 2021 until April 9, 2022; and Wednesdays from December 8, 2021 until April 20, 2022
• Between Québec City and Varadero, Cuba, Mondays and Fridays from November 1, 2021 until April 25, 2022; and Wednesdays and Saturdays from December 8, 2021 until April 13, 2022
• Between Québec City and Cancun, Mexico, Fridays and Sundays from November 5, 2021 until April 24, 2022; and Mondays from November 22, 2021 until April 11, 2022
• Between Québec City and Mazatlán, Mexico, Tuesdays from December 14, 2021 until April 12, 2022
• Between Québec City and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Fridays from December 17, 2021 until April 15, 2022
• Between Québec City and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursdays and Saturdays from November 4, 2021 until April 21, 2022
• Between Québec City and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Tuesdays from December 2, 2021 until April 12, 2022
• Between Québec City and Miami, Florida, Saturdays from January 8, 2022 until April 16, 2022

“We are delighted that Sunwing is returning to Québec City this winter with flights to sun destinations that are well loved by Quebecois customers, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Miami,” said Stéphane Poirier, President and CEO of Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB). “We appreciate Sunwing’s confidence in our market and look forward to continuing this long-standing relationship. We are excited to welcome Sunwing passengers back to YQB as the departure gateway for their next vacation.”

In addition to flights from Quebec City, residents of the province can explore 20 different destinations from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport including the vacation hotspots of Los Cabos and St. Maarten, and four different destinations from Saguenay-Bagotville Airport. No matter where they take off from, customers can travel with peace of mind knowing that the highest Canadian standards are in place throughout their entire vacation experience as part of the Safe with Sunwing commitment.

About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the company’s own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

What Happened To Canada’s Zoom Airlines?

From Flying Simple – link to source story

by Jake Hardiman | August 29, 2021

In the last 18 months, the name ‘Zoom’ has become synonymous with communications in the ‘new normal.’ However, at the start of the 21st century, the word also gave its name to a low-cost Canadian airline. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Zoom Airlines operated scheduled and charter services to various leisure destinations between 2002 and 2008.

Zoom’s largest aircraft were its Boeing 767-300ERs. Photo: Aero Icarus via Flickr

In the beginning

Zoom Airlines came into being in May 2002, and was the brainchild of Scottish brothers Hugh and John Boyle. The pair had decades of experience in the leisure travel sector, having entered the scene with a startup known as Falcon Holidays in the 1980s. The pair eventually sold the brand on, and formed Direct Holidays in 1991.

Zoom’s aircraft all bore the names of Canadian cities. Meanwhile, the UK-based sister company’s 767s were named after British cities, namely Brighton and London. Photo: RussellHarryLee via Flickr

A leisure-focused airline

Zoom aimed to fill a gap in the Canadian leisure market. The carrier flew to a range of transatlantic destinations, as well as locations in Asia, the Caribbean, and elsewhere in the Americas. From 2006, some of these flights were in codeshare with Flyglobespan.

From Ottawa and Toronto (both in Ontario), Zoom served all four UK countries. England saw service in London and Manchester, while Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales each had one airport with a Zoom presence (Belfast, Glasgow, and Cardiff respectively). Elsewhere in Europe, Zoom also flew to Amsterdam, Paris, and Rome.

Not just transatlantic routes

Zoom also flew to destinations closer to home. The US leisure hotspots of Fort Lauderdale, New York, and San Diego all saw the airline make an appearance. From Canada itself, Zoom didn’t just fly out of Ontario, but also from the states of Alberta (Calgary), British Columbia (Vancouver), Manitoba (Winnipeg), Nova Scotia (Halifax), and Québec (Montréal).

Zoom’s 767s had over 60 premium economy seats. Photo: Adrian Pingstone via Wikimedia Commons

For Canadians seeking a more tropical trip away, Zoom served five Caribbean destinations: Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Further to the south, Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport also saw the airline’s all-blue planes make appearances. Finally, Zoom’s network even stretched as far afield as Thailand, in the form of Phuket.

A solid presence in the UK

2006 was a key year for Zoom. November that year saw it launch a codeshare agreement with Scottish leisure carrier Flyglobespan. This allowed Zoom to operate two of Flyglobespan’s three weekly Manchester-Toronto flights, among other partnerships. This lasted for the 2006/07 winter season, before Flyglobespan shelved its Canadian services.

Zoom also flew narrowbodies such as the Boeing 757. Photo: abdallahh via Wikimedia Commons

However, the agreement with Flyglobespan was not the only venture that saw Zoom increase its British footprint in 2006. Indeed, in the summer of that year, a £5.7 million investment from the Bank of Scotland catalyzed the startup of a UK-based sister airline.

Allowing for 15 years of inflation, this is the equivalent of £7.8 million, or $10.7 million, today. According to ATDB.aero, the Gatwick-based carrier, which was also known as Zoom Airlines UK, commenced operations the following year, in June 2007. It operated two Boeing 767-300ERs, as well as a 757-200. It leased the latter of these from Air Finland.

Zoom Airlines Limited’s first routes saw the new carrier serve Bermuda and New York. Later in 2007, it confirmed that Fort Lauderdale and San Diego would follow in the summer of 2008. Operating out of Belfast, Cardiff, and London Gatwick, the airline also served the French island of Corsica, as well as flying charters to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

2006 saw Zoom take multiple steps to further establish itself in the UK market. Photo: Getty Images

The end of the line

2006’s UK expansions heralded a potentially promising future for Zoom. However, despite this growth, its story came to an end just two years later. The collapse began on August 27th, 2008. At this point, an aircraft was stranded in Calgary after its owner canceled Zoom’s lease agreement. The airline’s debts prevented it from being refueled.

According to the BBC, the cause of Zoom’s debts had been the rising cost of jet fuel. This had added £27.3 million ($50 million at the time) a year to its fuel costs. Zoom’s business model reportedly relied on the cost of oil being around $70-80 per barrel.

By July 2008, this figure had hit $147. The recession in the mid to late-2000s rendered such high operating costs unsustainable for the carrier, which had 450 Canadian employees, and a further 260 in the UK. Authorities held other planes in Cardiff and Glasgow.

Zoom leased an Airbus A320 from Monarch. It wore a hybrid livery during this time, complete with the UK leisure carrier’s yellow and black cheatline. Photo: John Davies via Wikimedia Commons

A day later, on August 28th, 2008, Zoom declared it was filing for administration and ceasing operations, due to its financial struggles. Simultaneously, Zoom Airlines Limited, the carrier’s UK-based sister company, also filed for bankruptcy under British law.

A small, Boeing-dominated fleet

Almost all of Zoom’s aircraft were Boeing designs, apart from an Airbus A320-200 briefly leased from Monarch. According to data from ch-aviation.com, its most common model from the US planemaker was the 767-300ER. Zoom operated five of these twin-engine widebodies, alongside a pair of single-aisle Boeing 757-200s that dated back to 1990.

Zoom’s former 757s are now in storage in Goodyear, Arizona and Knock, Ireland. Meanwhile, the leased Monarch A320 was scrapped in Tupelo, Mississippi in August 2014. However, all five 767s remain active today. Four now fly freight for Atlas Air (one), Cargojet Airways (two), and Kalitta Air (one). Meanwhile, the fifth flies passengers for Omni Air International.

Plane enthusiast volunteers to restore century-old plane at Sault bushplane centre

From CTV News – link to source story and VIDEO

Link to Watch: Century-old plane restoration at Bushplane centre

Christian D’Avino, CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca Videojournalist | 26 August 2021

SAULT STE. MARIE – A model plane enthusiast in the Sault is putting his talents to use on a big project this summer.

Bob Parr is in the midst of restoring a 90-year-old plane, called the KR-34 Fairchild, as a volunteer and is doing so on display at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

“I started as a kid, way back in the ’50s,” Parr said. “It just progressed from there and I love what I do.”

The plane is the oldest Parr has ever worked on, and one of the oldest at the Bushplane Centre.

Parr said he’s been a real hit with some of the visitors to the centre.

“The kids love it,” he said. “Some days, it’s hard to get some work in with all the questions I’m fielding, but it’s worth it for sure.”

Parr said he expects to complete the project by next summer.

Transport Canada suspending all direct commercial and private passenger flights from Morocco until September 29, 2021

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 28, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ – Canada has some of the strictest travel and border measures in the world, and is prioritizing the health and safety of Canadians by continuing to take a risk-based and measured approach to re-opening its borders.

Like every other element of Canada’s COVID-19 response, border measures are based on available data, scientific evidence and monitoring of the epidemiological situation both in Canada and internationally. An increase in COVID-19 positive test results has been observed in travellers arriving in Canada from Morocco over the past month.

Based on the latest public health advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada is issuing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from Morocco from August 29, 2021, at 00:01 EDT until September 29, 2021, at 00:00 EDT. All direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from Morocco are subject to the NOTAM. Cargo-only operations, medical transfers or military flights are not included.

To ensure aviation safety and to reduce operational interruptions, flights from Morocco that are already in transit at the time of the publication of the NOTAM will be allowed to proceed to Canada. As an interim measure, until the NOTAM comes into effect, all travellers arriving on those flights will be required to take a test on arrival to Canada.

Transport Canada is also amending the Interim Order Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, related to third-country pre-departure COVID-19 molecular tests to include travellers to Canada from Morocco via an indirect route. This means that passengers who depart Morocco to Canada, via an indirect route, will be required to obtain a valid COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country – other than Morocco – before continuing their journey to Canada. The third-country testing requirement will also come into effect on August 29, 2021, at 00:01 EDT.

Canada continues to closely monitor the situation, and will be working closely with the Government of Morocco and aviation operators to ensure appropriate procedures are put in place to enable a safe resumption of direct flights as soon as conditions permit.  

Restricting flights from countries of concern is part of Canada’s general approach to the responsible and effective management of Canada’s border re-opening plan.

Canadians are advised to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada – international travel increases the risk of exposure to, and the spread of, COVID-19 and its variants. Border measures also remain subject to change as the epidemiological situation evolves.

Associated Links

• COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders
• COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance for aviation

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. 

Air Canada’s strict new employee vaccine policy could set new workplace bar: experts

From City News 1130 – link to source story

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS AND CLAIRE FENTON | Aug 27, 2021

Grounded Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

CALGARY — Air Canada won’t offer rapid testing as an alternative to employees who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The airline says it will require all employees to be vaccinated by Oct. 30. Those who don’t have a valid reason for not having their shots could be fired.

Most companies that have said they’ll require employees to get the jab are giving unvaccinated employees the option of submitting to regular COVID-19 testing instead. But experts say Air Canada’s tougher stance could set a new bar.

Employment lawyer Chantel Goldsmith says Air Canada’s policy is legal. But the airline must accommodate those who have a medical condition or other valid reason for not having their shots.

She says otherwise it could create a legal issue.

It’s expected many other companies will be looking at Air Canada’s announcement to see what steps they will apply to their own staff, especially as many workers plan to head back to the office.

Until the move, Porter Airlines was the lone airline to require its staff be fully immunized.

It’s expected more announcements of mandatory vaccine policies will be ahead across the country as all of Canada’s federally regulated industries must come up with plans to get their workers vaccinated by the end of October.

WestJet and Transat say they are still developing their employee vaccination policies. But the pilots’ union for those airlines has told its members it rejects threats of termination based on vaccine status.

The Canadian government also announced earlier this month that it will mandate vaccines for commercial air travellers.

With files from Kayla Butler

Revive Design Awards’ challenges professional designers and students to reimagine luxury jet interiors

Camber Aviation and Boeing Business Jets launch competition to create new concepts in luxury aircraft interiors; winners to be announced at Dubai Design Week

British Columbia, Canada – 25 August 2021: Camber Aviation Management, a leading global provider of corporate jet cabin completion management and advisory services, in cooperation with Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has announced the date for the grand finale of their first ever luxury aircraft interior awards, highlighting state-of-the-art design and functionality to the world’s finest pre-owned private jets.

The Revive Design Awards will spark new interest, revealing what is possible when fresh ideas and energy are brought to private jet cabin design. Innovative designer solutions will challenge the very concept of what is “NEW and FRESH”. This competition is a unique opportunity to gather experienced and up-and coming designers to express their ideas and creativity on a truly inspiring project. Camber Aviation Management and Boeing Business Jets will host the Revive Design Awards gala in Dubai on 13 November, the final day of the Dubai Design Week. The awards will provide an inspiring event to help kickoff private aviation’s participation in the next day’s Dubai Air Show.

Camber Aviation Management and BBJ have teamed up with the most promising professional designers and design schools in the world for a unique challenge: to take a previous generation interior and revive it into a stunning new private jet cabin worthy of the most selective private jet owners. Each design concept will be presented live, for the first time, to the invited guests in Dubai and to the audience watching on social media around the world. A jury composed of respected experts from the industry will select the best design in two categories; one from professional designers, and one from design schools. The audience, both “live” and through social media will select their favourites – as will the experienced panel of judges. The winner for “Best cabin design” for each of the two categories will be awarded at the gala event in Dubai. This award aspires to become an annual event relevant both for the business aviation industry and contemporary industrial design.

Following this announcement, Camber’s CEO, Tom Chatfield, stated: “We are incredibly excited to partner with BBJ to present the first annual Revive Design Awards. This will be one of the first major aviation events in almost two years. We are gathering competitors, jury members, organisers, and guests together at a truly memorable location, to unveil some of what promises to be the most innovative contemporary cabin design solutions seen. This event will excite our industry and give current and future BBJ owners a glimpse into the art of the possible in the world’s most exclusive business jet. This award is only the beginning”.

“Boeing Business Jets is delighted to participate in the Revive Awards project,” said Alexis Fecteau, the Global Director of Marketing at Boeing Business Jets and Director of Sales for Boeing’s largest region centered in the Middle East. “At BBJ, we constantly seek to support the new ideas and new talent that keep our business aviation industry at the forefront of innovation. With the Revive initiative, design students and up-and-coming designers can bring these new “out-of-the-box” ideas to life and share a fresh vision of what the most advanced interior business jet environments should look like for 2021 and beyond.”

About Camber Aviation Management:

Camber Aviation Management is a leader in creating custom-designed, unique world-class corporate and private aircraft. We deliver exceptional quality, style, and service to our exclusive clientele. Each member of our team has been involved with corporate aircraft for a minimum of fifteen years and is a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer and/or holds an advanced aviation degree. Together, we have over 135 years of aviation experience that we apply to turn our client’s vision into their own corporate jet.

About Boeing Business Jets:

Boeing Business Jets builds the finest business jets ever made. Preferred by more heads of state than any other jet, BBJ’s are truly a step above any other. By bringing the best of commercial aviation to the realm of private air travel, Boeing Business Jets provides a range of airplanes that span the globe, many of which can fly between any two destinations, nonstop, anywhere. Each private jet is built, then uniquely customized for each individual private VIP, business, or government client, with careful attention to the smallest details. Based upon our robust commercial-based platforms, our jets provide the most luxurious, personalized, reliable, and cost-effective jets available, truly a smart business decision. Backed by Boeing’s worldwide flight and maintenance support network, we also ensure our exclusive flyers travel where they want, when they want, in unparalleled comfort and style.