Implementation of this technology is another step towards Pearson’s commitment to innovation and digitization
TORONTO, March 14, 2023 /CNW/ – The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is today announcing that it is partnering with Assaia to help enable smoother, faster and more predictable operations through the deployment of Assaia ApronAI at all of Toronto Pearson International Airport’s 106 gates.
Assaia provides an artificial intelligence solution to track every aspect of aircraft turnaround performance—physically preparing an aircraft when it lands until it takes off again for a new flight. By monitoring what is happening around the aircraft in real time, the data will be used to highlight and address inefficiencies, and to provide accurate estimates of timeliness to increase gate availability, improve on-time performance and be more transparent with passengers.
“We’re creating the airport of the future, and innovation in apron operations will directly improve the passenger experience,” said Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the GTAA. “We’re pleased for the potential industry-wide transformation that may result from these new technologies. We are laser focused on innovations that will make Pearson and its whole apron ecosystem more efficient while reducing our carbon footprint.”
The integration of this technology is another step towards digitization for Toronto Pearson. Assaia has monitored over 1.5 million flights and observed over 3 million turnaround events while working with Seattle-Tacoma Airport, Halifax Stanfield Airport, British Airways, London Gatwick and more.
About the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is the operator of Toronto – Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest airport and a vital connector of people, businesses and goods. Toronto Pearson was named “Best Large Airport in North America serving more than 40 million passengers” for five years in a row by Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade representative of the world’s airports. In recognition of its Healthy Airport program, ACI has also awarded Toronto Pearson the “Best hygiene measures in North America” award for three years running, and Toronto Pearson was the first Canadian airport to receive ACI’s global health accreditation for its response to COVID-19.
Passengers can take advantage of new tools to make the experience smoother
No matter the weather, Pearson’s storm protocols keep you moving
TORONTO, March 10, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson, held a media day to provide travel tips for passengers ahead of March Break.
March Break has always been one of the busiest times at Pearson, and this year the GTAA expects up to 125,000 passengers per day during the peak travel weekend, starting today. This represents approximately 85% of pre-pandemic volume seen during March Break 2019.
Pearson has been collaborating with its partners to support their operations, including working with airlines since August of last year to ensure they balance their activity with their resources during the traditionally busy travel period.
For passengers, Pearson and its airport partners have introduced a number of tools to make travel easier.
These include:
YYZ Express, an online reservation program, allows travellers to book a spot in the security line ahead of their flight, up to 72 hours in advance. This will help speed up security wait times for passengers.
Mobile Passport Control, an app introduced by United States Customs and Border Protection, allows travellers to digitally submit their customs form for a smoother departures experience from Pearson if they’re travelling to the US.
Pearson’s live wait times dashboard provides travellers with real-time information ahead of arriving at the airport.
Pearson’s peak travel times dashboard gives passengers a look at historical data to help them understand if they’ll be passing through the airport during a busy period.
Advance Declaration continues to be offered by Canada Border Services Agency, which lets travellers submit their customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of flying into Canada, giving them a faster border experience and saving them time at Pearson. And new at Pearson, passengers who complete Advance Declaration will have access to an Express Lane in the customs area, further saving them time.
Passengers can brush up on what to do to make the security screening experience smoother by checking out travel tips from CATSA. There are specific tips for families, seniors, passengers with special needs and more.
To keep the kids entertained, Pearson will be offering activities in both terminals, including appearances by Lester the Toronto Pearson mascot, who will be handing out lip balms, colouring books, crayons and more. Ron the magician will also be on-hand to entertain families while they wait for their flights.
Travellers should also be mindful that this is the time of year when winter weather can impact travel. Potential weather disruptions in the form of snow are expected today. While every partner in the Pearson ecosystem works diligently to mitigate the effects of weather events, it’s important to know that snow, ice and extreme cold weather can impact flights.
Pearson has robust protocols in place to limit the negative impact of winter weather on flight operations. These include:
Our Central Deicing Facility (CDF) is capable of deicing 500 aircraft in a single day as quickly and safely as possible.
State-of-the-art snow removal equipment keeps the runways clear so aircraft can land and take off safely. If snow is in the forecast, we make sure extra staff are scheduled and equipment is in position so we’re ready to roll as soon as the snow falls.
We strongly encourage all passengers to check their flight status with their airline before leaving for the airport.
About the Greater Toronto Airports
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is the operator of Toronto – Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest airport and a vital connector of people, businesses and goods. Toronto Pearson has been named “Best Large Airport in North America serving more than 40 million passengers” for five years in a row by Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade representative of the world’s airports. In recognition of its Healthy Airport program, ACI has also awarded Toronto Pearson the “Best hygiene measures in North America” award for three years running, and Toronto Pearson was the first Canadian airport to receive ACI’s global health accreditation for its response to COVID-19.
Winter 2023 will see an expansion in Las Vegas with the addition of service from Ottawa and Calgary
Existing Phoenix service will move from Phoenix-Mesa to Sky Harbor and new route from Calgary to begin in October
Majority of Winter 2023 capacity to be international or transborder
EDMONTON, AB, March 7, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, Flair Airlines, Canada’s everyday low fare airline, announces the release of an exciting winter 2023 schedule. The schedule features added depth across the network to give customers more choice, particularly to sunshine, at low fares.
Today’s announcement includes several new routes, including Toronto to Puerto Vallarta (beginning October 29, 4x weekly), Kitchener-Waterloo to Puerto Vallarta (beginning December 16, 3x weekly), Calgary to Las Vegas (beginning October 30, 7x weekly), and Calgary to Phoenix (beginning October 30, 4x weekly). Flair will also be the only carrier to serve Ottawa to Las Vegas (beginning October 13, 2x weekly).
Existing service from Vancouver and Edmonton to Phoenix will move to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for the season, along with the new service from Calgary to Phoenix.
“With today’s exciting announcement, we are reaffirming our commitment to Canadians,” said Stephen Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer, Flair Airlines. “Our network offers more choice to more sun destinations than ever before. Rather than one reprieve from winter, we look forward to Canadians taking the opportunity to try all of the amazing destinations in our network.”
“We’ve optimized our network this winter to match demand for sun. It’s clear that Canadians want more affordable options for sun, more often,” said Garth Lund, Chief Commercial Officer, Flair Airlines. “We’ve focused on adding depth to our network by increasing frequencies on popular routes. We’ll now have daily service various routes, including Vancouver to Los Angeles and Toronto to Orlando to make it easier for Canadians to plan their winter travel.”
One-way fares at flyflair.com begin at $9 one way including taxes and fees (Thunder Bay to Toronto). Limited seats for a limited time. Flights are available for booking at flyflair.com.
All routes, including the winter schedule, are now on sale for 20% off base fare with code: SAVE20. Sale starts on March 7 and ends on March 9, 2023, for travel from March 7, 2023, to March 14, 2024. Terms and conditions apply. Limited seats for a limited time. *
About Flair Airlines
Flair Airlines is Canada’s leading low-fare airline and its greenest airline, on a mission to provide affordable air travel that connects them to the people and experiences they love. With an expanding fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Flair is growing to serve over 35 cities across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. For more information, please visit www.flyflair.com.
*Use promo code: SAVE20. Limited seats for a limited time. Base fare only. Taxes and fees not included. Sale start: March 7, 2023. Sale end: March 9, 2023. Blackout dates: April 6 – April 7, 2023; April 10, 2023; May 18 – May 19, 2023; May 22 – May 23, 2023; June 30, 2023; September 1 – September 4, 2023; October 6 – October 9, 2023; November 10 – November 13, 2023; December 15, 2023 – January 7, 2024; February 15 – February 20, 2024.
Winter 2023 Weekly Frequencies
Transborder
Toronto (YYZ) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 14x weekly
Vancouver (YVR) – Los Angeles (LAX): 7x weekly
Toronto (YYZ) – New York (JFK): 4X weekly
Toronto (YYZ) – Las Vegas (LAS): 4x weekly
Vancouver (YVR) – San Francisco (SFO): 4x weekly
Ottawa (YOW) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 4x weekly
Toronto (YYZ) – Orlando (SFB): 7x weekly
Vancouver (YVR) – Las Vegas (LAS): 7x weekly
Edmonton (YEG) – Las Vegas (LAS): 4x weekly
Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 4x weekly
The ultra-not-expensive airline looks forward to connecting Canadians from coast to coast this summer with new routes and added capacity
CALGARY, AB, March 6, 2023 /CNW/ – Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost airline, is excited to announce its expanded summer schedule, with several new routes and added flight frequencies, offering Canadians more affordable options for domestic travel.
“As Canada’s leading ultra-not-expensive airline, we’re proud to be expanding our footprint from coast to coast with our summer schedule,” said Bob Cummings, President of Swoop. “Convenience and affordability are paramount, so we’re focusing our ultra-not-expensive flights in true ULCC markets that enable more Canadians to explore their big, beautiful backyard.”
As part of this summer’s domestic expansion, Swoop will be adding new service between London, ON (YXU) and Abbotsford (YXX), and will restart seasonal service between Hamilton (YHM) and Charlottetown (YYG). The ULCC will also return popular service to Deer Lake, NL (YDF) with enhanced connectivity from southern Ontario, with flights operating six times weekly from Hamilton (YHM) and Toronto (YYZ).
“This summer we’re thrilled to add significant frequencies on our top performing routes,” continued Cummings. “With daily service in many key leisure markets, we’re making it easier than ever for Canadians access our ultra-convenient and ultra-affordable flights.”
Swoop is also signalling that winter is not over yet, with new seasonal extensions for its most popular sun-flying routes. Canadians can escape to the beach through the end of June with ultra-not-expensive flights from Edmonton (YEG) and Abbotsford (YXX) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Los Cabos (SJD) for as low as $119.00 CAD all-in one-way*.
“The London International Airport is thrilled to announce non-stop service to beautiful Abbotsford, British Columbia with Swoop this summer” said Scott McFadzean, President and CEO of the London International Airport. “London and the surrounding region continue to look for more exciting destinations directly from YXU’s easy and comfortable airport. We’re looking forward to the spring and the launch of Abbotsford service with Swoop.”
“We are excited to welcome Swoop back for its second year to Deer Lake for the Summer 2023. Swoop provides affordable air travel, making it easier for families and friends to reconnect more often from Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario with opportunity for connection beyond. It increases access for tourists to take in the many great experiences we offer in Western Newfoundland & Labrador.” said Tammy Priddle President and CEO Deer Lake Regional Airport. “2022 was a great season with Swoop and we are confident 2023 will be another terrific year for travellers to start their adventures with Swoop at YDF”.
Swoop’s fleet growth in 2022 has enabled the ULCC to grow its presence across Canada, with a strong focus in Atlantic Canada where affordable air travel options are lean. Swoop will operate daily flights from southern Ontario into Halifax (YHZ) and St. John’s (NL) and near daily flights to Charlottetown (YYG). West coast connectivity will continue to soar with a 67% increase in flights operating to Abbotsford (YXX).
With one-way all-in prices starting from just $39 CAD*, there’s never been a better time to start planning a great Canadian adventure.
Route
Peak Weekly Frequency
Lowest one- way total price (CAD)
Base Fare (CAD)
Taxes & Fees (CAD)
Hamilton to Deer Lake
2x weekly
$59.00
$15.23
$43.77
Deer Lake to Hamilton
2x weekly
$59.00
$16.14
$42.86
Toronto to Deer Lake
4x weekly
$79.00
$28.84
$50.16
Deer Lake to Toronto
4x weekly
$79.00
$32.62
$46.38
Hamilton to Charlottetown
3x weekly
$59.00
$16.14
$42.87
Charlottetown to Hamilton
3x weekly
$49.00
$11.53
$37.47
London to Abbotsford
4x weekly
$49.00
$25.29
$23.71
Abbotsford to London
4x weekly
$39.00
$22.84
$16.16
Toronto to Los Cabos
2x weekly
$179.00
$65.88
$113.12
Edmonton to Los Cabos
2x weekly
$119.00
$8.68
$113.32
Abbotsford to Los Cabos
1x weekly
$109.00
$35.43
$73.57
Edmonton to Puerto Vallarta
2x weekly
$139.00
$28.66
$110.34
Abbotsford to Puerto Vallarta
2x weekly
$119.00
$55.43
$73.57
*Seasonal start and end dates apply and are indicated in the booking flow. | Fares are valid until March 7, 2023 or while seats last. | Prices displayed are subject to change and are not guaranteed until payment is made and accepted. | Seats at these fares are limited, and may not be available on all flights. | Non-refundable.
About Swoop
Swoop is on a mission to make travel more affordable and accessible for all Canadians. Established in 2018 as an independent subsidiary of the WestJet Group of Companies, Swoop is Canada’s ultra-not-expensive airline. Offering scheduled service to destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, Swoop’s unbundled fares put travellers in control of purchasing only the products and services they desire.
Swoop’s fleet of ten Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft expanded in 2022 to add six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, for a total of 16 aircraft.
At FlySwoop.com travellers can quickly and easily book flights, manage bookings, check-in, view boarding passes, and track flights.
TORONTO, ON, March 3rd , 2023 – Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (NEO: CJET) (“Canada Jetlines”), is pleased to announce their first scheduled flight to Mexico from Canada took place today, between Toronto and Cancun.
“Canada Jetlines is very proud to operate our first scheduled flight between Canada and Mexico. Following the recent announcement of our first successful scheduled operation to Las Vegas Nevada, we are pleased to be flying this morning to Cancun,” said Canada Jetlines Chief Commercial Officer, Duncan Bureau. “Canada Jetlines continues to expand on the strong relationships with the Travel Agency community, and Tourism Boards in both Canada and Mexico. We are looking forward to offering our world class product to those that are traveling between the province of Ontario and the state of Quintana Roo. Jetlines is looking forward to adding more markets and partners across North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.”
Canada Jetlines’ flights can be booked via www.Jetlines.com or you can contact your favorite Travel Agency. Canada Jetlines will operate its growing network with a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.
MONTREAL, Feb. 28, 2023 /CNW/ – Air Canada today issued the following statement in response to reports about the Greater Toronto Airport Authority imposing limits on carrier operations at Toronto-Pearson airport.
Air Canada was first advised of the GTAA’s plans in August 2022, and so it designed its 2023 winter schedule with these limitations taken into account and anticipates no significant changes to its schedule for the March Break travel period. It subsequently received information about GTAA’s plans for summer 2023 and similarly designed this coming summer’s schedule to meet those parameters.
It is Air Canada’s policy to work with its industry partners to meet the requirements of airports and other third parties to drive operational improvements and support the smooth running of Canada’s air transport system. This includes, as in this case, adapting its schedule as required to ensure operational stability, and is a normal process.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 51 airports in Canada, 51 in the United States and 88 internationally. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger flights and cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300 freighters. Air Canada has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050.
United and Air Canada to increase summer capacity by more than 20% with new non-stop flights between Washington-Dulles and Vancouver and Calgary
MONTREAL and CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2023 /CNW/ – Air Canada and United Airlines announced today that, through their enhanced transborder joint business agreement, they will offer industry leading capacity and new routes between Canada and the U.S. for summer 2023 – including a new United-operated flight between Washington-Dulles and Calgary and a new Air Canada-operated flight between Washington-Dulles and Vancouver. The carriers have collaboratively optimized their schedules, subject to applicable government and regulatory conditions, and added more flights to provide customers greater connectivity and more flexible flight times, with over 80 transborder codeshare routes and more than 260 daily flights.
“Through our longstanding partnership with United Airlines, Air Canada has been able to offer customers ever-increasing and significant benefits. This summer, customers will have even greater choice and convenience with our joint summer schedule made possible by our airlines’ new enhanced transborder agreement. Together we will offer more than 260 daily departures to the U.S, and new non-stop flights from Vancouver and Calgary to Washington-Dulles,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada. “Our coordinated schedules will provide business travelers with the convenience of hourly service and the additional comfort of a business cabin on all flights between Toronto and New York and Chicago, as well as Vancouver and San Francisco.”
“We’re proud of our continued work with Air Canada to provide customers with even greater transborder connectivity, including adding more flights and new direct service to Calgary and Vancouver from Washington Dulles,” said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United Airlines. “With schedules designed to give customers more flexibility with timing and more convenient connection options, as well as the ability to enjoy the benefits of both airlines’ loyalty programs, our agreement with Air Canada makes United the premier U.S. airline for travel to Canada.”
New Non-stop Flights Between Vancouver, Calgary and Washington
New, non-stop service between Vancouver and Washington-Dulles will begin June 1 and will be operated with an Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8. United will also introduce a new, non-stop flight between Calgary and Washington-Dulles on June 2 on an Airbus 319. Air Canada and United will codeshare on these flights, allowing Aeroplan or MileagePlus® members to accumulate and redeem miles. Eligible customers and loyalty plan members will also be able to enjoy benefits including priority check-in, lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits where available.
Flight
Departs
Arrives
Frequency
AC 1036
Vancouver 8:15
Washington 16:16
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
AC 1037
Washington 17:10
Vancouver 20:01
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
UA 2221
Calgary 13:30
Washington 19:54
Daily
UA 1125
Washington 9:00
Calgary 11:59
Daily
Transborder Schedule
The two carriers will operate more than 260 daily transborder departures in summer 2023, about a 20 percent increase in schedule capacity compared to summer 2022. The schedule will include up to 120 daily departures between the airlines’ hub markets, an increase from 101 in summer 2021. Flights will be timed to offer optimized connections at both Air Canada and United’s hubs and line stations.
Shuttle-Style Schedule
The coordinated schedule will enable both carriers to offer shuttle-style hourly service throughout the day between key Air Canada and United hubs. The airlines will offer 29 daily flights with complementary timings between Toronto and New York/Newark and Chicago, and 11 daily flights between Vancouver and San Francisco.
Route
Frequency
First Departure
Last Departure
Toronto-Chicago
13- times Daily
06:30
21:15
Chicago-Toronto
07:10
21:15
Toronto-New York/Newark
16-times Daily
06:15
21:00
New York/Newark-Toronto
06:00
20:15
Vancouver-San Francisco
11-times Daily
07:00
21:00
San Francisco-Vancouver
06:45
21:00
Enhanced Western Canada Network to the U.S.
The airlines’ summer schedule also provides increased transborder service between the U.S. and Western Canada. There will be nine daily flights between Vancouver and New York/Newark, Houston and Chicago, and seven flights daily between Los Angeles and Vancouver. A second daily flight will be added between Calgary and both Chicago and Houston, and a second daily flight will also be added from Edmonton to Denver.
Customer Experience
Air Canada and United will offer business class seats on every flight between their respective hubs. All eligible customers will be able to enjoy Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges and United’s lounges, as well as the benefits of the carriers’ Aeroplan and MileagePlus® loyalty programs. Additionally, customers will have a wider range of flight options with more than 80 transborder codeshare routes. Overall, customers will be able to connect to over 100 codeshare destinations in the U.S. and 25 of the most popular cities in Canada.
Building on a Long-Standing Partnership
In July 2022, Air Canada and United announced a joint business agreement for the Canada-U.S. transborder market, building on their long-standing partnership that will give more flight options and better flight schedules to customers traveling between the two countries (coordination subject to regulatory conditions). Air Canada and United are also founding members of Star Alliance and a transatlantic joint business agreement with the Lufthansa Group.
In 2019, the U.S.-Canada transborder market was the second largest international passenger air transportation market in the world and the largest international market for both Canada and the U.S., as measured by seats.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 51 airports in Canada, 51 in the United States and 88 internationally. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger flights and cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300 freighters. Air Canada has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050.
About United
United’s shared purpose is “Connecting People. Uniting the World.” From our U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers. United is bringing back our customers’ favorite destinations and adding new ones on its way to becoming the world’s best airline. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.
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