Winter 2023 heats up with release of Flair Airlines Winter Schedule

• 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
• Vancouver (YVR) – Phoenix (PHX): 3x weekly
• Calgary (YYC) – Phoenix (PHX): 4x weekly
• Calgary (YYC) – Las Vegas (LAS): 7x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Orlando (SFB): 4x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Los Angeles (LAX): 3x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Phoenix (PHX): 4x weekly
• Ottawa (YOW) – Orlando (SFB): 4x weekly
• Ottawa (YOW) – Las Vegas (LAS): 2x weekly

International

• Vancouver (YVR) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 9x weekly
• Toronto (YYZ) – Cancun (CUN): 10x weekly
• Toronto (YYZ) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 4x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 3x weekly 
• Abbotsford (YXX) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 3x weekly
• Calgary (YYC) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 6x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Cancun (CUN) 4x weekly
• Vancouver (YVR) – Los Cabos (SJD): 3x weekly
• Ottawa (YOW) – Cancun (CUN): 3x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Los Cabos (SJD): 1x weekly
• Calgary (YYC) – Los Cabos (SJD): 1x weekly
• Abbotsford (YXX) – Los Cabos (SJD): 1x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 3x weekly

Domestic

• Toronto (YYZ) – Vancouver (YVR): 15x weekly
• Toronto (YYZ) – Calgary (YYC): 11x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Abbotsford (YXX): 14x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Vancouver (YVR): 14X weekly
• Abbotsford (YXX) – Calgary (YYC): 14x weekly
• Vancouver (YVR) – Calgary (YYC): 14x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Kelowna (YLW): 11x weekly
• Winnipeg (YWG) – Toronto (YYZ): 10x weekly
• Kelowna (YLW) – Calgary (YYC): 7x weekly
• Kelowna (YLW) – Vancouver (YVR): 7x weekly
• Montreal (YUL) – Vancouver (YVR): 5x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Toronto (YYZ): 7x weekly
• Abbotsford (YXX) – Toronto (YYZ): 7x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Vancouver (YVR): 4x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Winnipeg (YWG): 4x weekly
• Winnipeg (YWG) – Calgary (YYC): 4x weekly
• Saskatoon (YXE) – Calgary (YYC): 3x weekly
• Vancouver (YVR) – Winnipeg (YWG): 3x weekly
• Montreal (YUL) – Calgary (YYC): 3x weekly
• Halifax (YHZ) – Ottawa (YOW): 4x weekly
• Vancouver (YVR) – Saskatoon (YXE): 3x weekly
• Saskatoon (YXE) – Toronto (YYZ): 3x weekly
• Calgary (YYC) – Victoria (YYJ): 3x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Montreal (YUL): 4x weekly
• Ottawa (YOW) – Vancouver (YVR): 2x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo – Calgary (YYC): 3x weekly
• Halifax (YHZ) – Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF): 2x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Abbotsford (YXX): 3x weekly
• Ottawa (YOW) – Calgary (YYC): 3x weekly
• Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF) – Winnipeg (YWG): 2x weekly
• Edmonton (YEG) – Victoria (YYJ): 3x weekly

WestJet brings more seats and increased flight frequencies to summer schedule

Airline bolsters ambitious growth strategy with increased options for guests to travel across summer network

CALGARY, AB, March 6, 2023 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced significant increases to its summer schedule bringing more seats and additional flight frequencies to popular routes across its network. With nearly 600 daily departures during peak travel days, WestJet’s summer schedule enhancements will bring more opportunities for Canadians to travel seamlessly across the airline’s domestic, transborder and international network this summer.

“Providing our guests with even more opportunity to travel across our network this summer comes as a result of a thoughtfully designed schedule that balances the high demand for travel alongside a reliable and resilient operation,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Group Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer. “With more seats available for booking and added capacity on popular routes, our summer schedule reflects a strengthened commitment to providing seamless domestic and transborder connectivity for our guests.”

Highlights of WestJet’s summer schedule increases over 2022:

• 64 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Regina
• 46 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Saskatoon
• 44 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Edmonton
• 42 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Winnipeg
• 27 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Calgary
• 13 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Kelowna
• 5 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Vancouver

Enhanced flight frequencies across popular domestic and transborder routes:

Route	2023 peak summer frequency	2022 peak summer frequency
Edmonton – Las Vegas	11x weekly	4x weekly
Edmonton – Los Angeles	7x weekly	4x weekly
Calgary – Denver	4x weekly	2x weekly
Calgary – Houston	13x weekly	7x weekly
Calgary – New York (JFK)	7x weekly	4x weekly
Vancouver – Saskatoon	7x weekly	4x weekly
Vancouver – Ottawa	11x weekly	5x weekly
Calgary – Yellowknife	14x weekly	7x weekly
Calgary – Windsor	7x weekly	3x weekly
Calgary – London, Ont.	14x weekly	7x weekly
Calgary – Montreal	20x weekly	13x weekly
Edmonton – Kelowna	35x weekly	27x weekly
Edmonton – Winnipeg	20x weekly	6x weekly
Edmonton – Yellowknife	7x weekly	3x weekly
Edmonton – Saskatoon	14x weekly	6x weekly
Edmonton – Regina	14x weekly	6x weekly
Edmonton – Victoria	20x weekly	13x weekly
Edmonton – Halifax	13x weekly	7x weekly
Winnipeg – Thunder Bay	13x weekly	7x weekly
Winnipeg – Saskatoon	12x weekly	7x weekly

About WestJet

In 27 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 110 destinations in 24 countries.  

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

Recent recognition includes:  

2020/2019 Number-One Ranked Canadian Airline Loyalty Program in Member Engagement (Bond Brand Loyalty)   

2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for Airlines)  
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for Airlines)  

2019/2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)  

Air Canada Launches Digital Identification; First Airline to Test Facial Recognition Technology for Identification Verification in Canada

• Pilot underway at YVR on select flights to Winnipeg, and at the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson
• Digital credentials securely encrypted via the Air Canada mobile app
• Passenger airport experience enhanced through paperless, seamless boarding option

MONTREAL, Feb. 21, 2023 /CNW/ – Air Canada announced it has launched digital identification, becoming the first airline in Canada with approval to offer customers the safety and convenience of a new option using facial recognition technology to confirm identification. In a pilot project currently underway, Air Canada’s digital identification is now available for customers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) when boarding select flights to Winnipeg, and for eligible customers entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Air Canada plans to expand digital identification options to select Canadian airports and Maple Leaf Lounges as part of its pilot project phase.

“Many of our customers already utilize digital credentials to simplify their daily activities such as unlocking mobile phones, entering workplaces, verifying identification during financial transactions and more. We are very excited to now take a leadership position in Canada and test digital identification using facial recognition technology to validate customer identification quickly, securely and accurately at select airport touchpoints. Participation in digital identification is voluntary. Customers choosing to use digital identification will benefit from a simplified and seamless process at the gate and when entering our Maple Leaf Lounges,” said Craig Landry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.

“Our government and Canadian airlines and airports are eager to move forward with innovative solutions and technologies to modernize the traveller journey in airports across the country, which would enable a more seamless and efficient air transportation system. Air Canada’s pilot project will speed up processes at YVR, and other airports where it’s established, while respecting robust privacy measures and security standards. This project has great potential in making gate boarding easier and faster for Canadian passengers, while maintaining strong safety measures,” said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport – Government of Canada.

Customers eligible to utilize the Air Canada Café in Toronto and customers on select flights from Vancouver to Winnipeg will receive an invitation to use the digital identification option, and instructions on how to create their secure digital faceprint prior to arriving at the airport.

Customers who do not wish to utilize digital identification may simply board as they currently do now by presenting their boarding pass and government-issued photo ID for manual ID check and processing. Likewise, customers may elect to continue scanning their boarding cards manually as they do now to enter the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson.

Digital identification is a single enrollment feature on the Air Canada app.  Biometric data is encrypted and stored only on the customer’s mobile phone. Customers must provide additional consent for the data to be used day-of travel and will only be retained for up to 36 hours subject to Air Canada’s rigorous privacy and security standards.  More information about digital identification is here.   

Air Canada’s digital identification is strictly an optional, consent-based Air Canada program. It is not related to any government-sponsored program like NEXUS, Global Entry or US CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC).

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. 

Winnipeg Airports Authority reaches new recovery milestone during Q4 2022

January 25, 2023

Categories: Quarterly Results

Winnipeg Airports Authority capped off a strong fourth quarter to 2022 with the busiest day at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport in nearly three years.

On December 30, YWG welcomed more than 12,000 travellers in a single day for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport finished the fourth quarter with a passenger total of 870,339 – up 67.8 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. Helping to propel this increase was the addition of a new, non-stop route to Los Angeles by WestJet, the return of flights to several popular winter sun destinations, and a busy holiday travel season. The quarter did end on a low with weather creating delays and cancellations across the aviation system, impacting travellers, including at YWG.

The year closed with 3,031,113 people passing through YWG, more than doubling the number of travellers in 2021. It also moves the airport to within 67.6 per cent of the pre-pandemic numbers it registered in 2019.

“Our recovery gained significant momentum throughout the year,” said Nick Hays, President and CEO of WAA. “We couldn’t be where we are today without the work of every single member of our team. It truly has been exciting for all of us to see the organization continue to move forward, but we know there’s still a lot of work ahead to get back to the solid position we were in before the pandemic.”

The airport’s cargo sector continued to thrive in the final months of 2022, thanks partly to the holiday shipping season – one of the busiest times of the year for air freight. YWG saw larger cargo planes moving more volume from Winnipeg over the quarter, with gross takeoff weight up year over year. This steady growth reaffirms the work underway by WAA to redevelop the cargo corner of the airport’s campus to support its freight partners and deliver the infrastructure the community needs to succeed.

WAA’s consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 48.1 per cent from the same period in 2021 to $36.1 million. Preliminary earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes were $15.1 million versus $9.1 million during the previous year’s fourth quarter.

As part of its commitment to provide a more accessible and inclusive environment, YWG implemented WHILL’s innovative self-driving wheelchairs in the fourth quarter as a fully available service, becoming the first place in North America to do so. Other highlights during the final three months of 2022 include the introduction of Oscar Sort’s artificial intelligence garbage sorting system in areas of the airport to help divert waste from landfills, the addition of a second Hug Rug in the Arrivals Hall outside the Customs Hall, and WAA’s decades-long Harvest Garden initiative feeding its 100,000th family in need.

Sunwing comes to Winnipeg bearing the gift of winter flights to popular vacation destinations in Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunwing brings Winnipeg residents the greatest gift of all this winter season. Customers setting out on their long-awaited winter getaways from Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) can now take advantage of multiple weekly flights to beloved destinations in Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, from sandy shores bordering the Caribbean Sea to the picturesque landscapes of the Pacific Coast.

“We’re thrilled to resume flight operations in Winnipeg for the winter season, helping our customers get more out of their getaways in more of the destinations they love,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “With a wide variety of resorts and fantastic deals on all vacation packages during our Boxing Week Sale, plus our guarantee of more perks, more value and more seamless travel experiences, our loyal customers in Winnipeg have easy access to their dream vacations from their local airport.”

“Manitobans looking to escape the snow and cold this winter will be able to take advantage of the opportunities provided by our friends at Sunwing,” said Scott Marohn, Vice President of Commercial at Winnipeg Airports Authority. “Whether it’s a Mexican beach resort city or somewhere tropical in the Caribbean, the variety of destinations travellers can take off to for a sunny getaway is truly exciting. We’re proud to work with Sunwing to bring more leisure travel options to our gates and connect our region to the world of paradise.”

The flight schedule for Winnipeg will be as follows:

Destination	Peak Frequency	From	To
Cancun	3x weekly	14-Nov-2022	10-Apr-2023
Cayo Coco	1x weekly	10-Dec-2022	08-Apr-2023
Los Cabos	1x weekly	08-Dec-2022	06-Apr-2023
Mazatlán	1x weekly	09-Dec-2022	07-Apr-2023
Puerto Plata	1x weekly	15-Dec-2022	06-Apr-2023
Puerto Vallarta	2x weekly	11-Nov-2022	09-Apr-2023
Punta Cana	2x weekly	11-Dec-2022	09-Apr-2023
Varadero	3x weekly	08-Nov-2022	08-Apr-2023

Vacationers hailing from Winnipeg have their pick of properties to do more of what they desire. A top choice for families with top accreditations in Puerto Plata, customers of all ages will love the non-motorized water sports, kids club, swimmable waters and spacious accommodations found at Iberostar Costa Dorada, a Sunwing SMILE™ resort. Travellers in search of some one-on-one time will also love Sunwing’s curated selection of adults only resorts, from Riu Palace Baja California’s glamourous infinity pool overlooking the iconic El Arco in Los Cabos, attentive wait service and international cuisine, to the intimate vacation experience that awaits in Varadero at Mystique Casa Perla by Royalton, the ten-room boutique hotel inspired by 1950s Cuba with a private beach, bespoke amenities and serene on-site spa.

Plus, on now until January 8, 2023, Winnipeg residents can take advantage of the tour operator’s Boxing Week Sale with three weeks of reduced rates on every Sunwing vacation package, and get more value and peace of mind when they add one of Sunwing’s comprehensive travel insurance options* to their winter bookings.

*Terms and conditions apply.

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.

Swoop Announces More Non-stop Sun Flying Across Canada

The ultra-not-expensive airline signals now is the time to escape the cold, with more frequent, affordable and convenient options this winter

CALGARY, AB, Dec. 12, 2022 /CNW/ – Today, Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost airline, is setting its sights south with newly added flights to Mexico and the Caribbean from Hamilton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Abbotsford.

“As Canada’s leading ultra-low fare airline, we are thrilled to be expanding sun-flying this winter,” said Bob Cummings, President of Swoop. “With winter weather upon us, demand for leisure travel down south is reaching new heights and we’re proud to meet that demand with this added capacity.”

The ultra-not-expensive airline recently completed a significant fleet expansion, inducting six new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to meet demand for ultra-low-cost leisure travel. Beginning in January, Swoop will restart service from Hamilton to Montego Bay. The ULCC will also add new frequencies to popular published routes from Hamilton to Punta Cana, Toronto to Cancun, Winnipeg to Puerto Vallarta, Edmonton to Mazatlán, as well as Abbotsford to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

Canadians can unlock exclusive discounts at all-inclusive resorts when they book their ultra-not-expensive flight as part of a Swoop Getaway*. For added convenience, Swoop flights to warm and sunny destinations are also available through WestJet Vacations.

“We’re excited that travellers can once again take advantage of convenient flights to Jamaica as Swoop resumes its popular service between Hamilton and Montego Bay in the new year. The restart is indicative of the growth ahead for our travel and tourism industry in 2023 and comes just in time for travellers looking for a Caribbean destination this winter. Sun-seekers across the region will now have a low-cost option to enjoy the relaxing beaches and exciting attractions that the vibrant city of Montego Bay has to offer.” – Cole Horncastle, Executive Managing Director of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport

“We are thrilled to see Swoop’s continued investment in the Hamilton community with the return of Swoop service to Montego Bay and added frequencies to Punta Cana. People from across the region enjoy the ease, convenience, and comfort of flying out of the John C. Munro International Airport right here in Hamilton. Increased Swoop services to popular destinations creates more jobs and boosts our local economy.” – Andrea Horwath, Mayor of Hamilton

With a one-way, all-in price to sunny escapes starting at just $159 CAD^†, Swoop is showing Canadians just how affordable a vacation can be this winter.  

Route	Peak Weekly Frequency	Lowest one-way  total price (CAD)	Base Fare   (CAD)	Taxes & Fees   (CAD)	Days operating per week
Hamilton to Montego Bay	2x weekly	$159.00	$47.33	$111.67	Wednesdays and Saturdays
Hamilton to Punta Cana	2x weekly	$199.00	$90.68	$108.32	Wednesdays and   Saturdays
Toronto to Cancun	8x per week	$269.00	$126.73	$99.32	Daily, 2x Tuesdays
Winnipeg to Puerto Vallarta	3x weekly	$399.00	$290.73	$99.32	Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Edmonton to Mazatlán	3x weekly	$199.00	$93.88	$102.17	Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Abbotsford to Los Cabos	3x weekly	$199.00	$130.64	$65.42	Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Abbotsford to Puerto Vallarta	4x weekly	$239.00	$170.63	$65.42	Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays

^†For travel between January 5-February 28, 2023 | Seasonal start and end dates apply and are indicated in the booking flow. | Fares are valid until December 15, 2022 (11:59 p.m. MT) or while seats last. | Prices displayed above are subject to change and are not guaranteed until payment is made and accepted.

*Swoop Getaways packages are only available at www.flyswoop.com

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 this year to add six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, for a total of 16 aircraft.

Air Canada Readies for Summer 2023 in Canada with New and Restored Services, and Increased Frequencies

• New, non-stop service between Montreal and Fort McMurray
• Increased frequencies on Toronto-Kelowna, Winnipeg-Toronto, Montreal-
  Vancouver
• Air Canada will offer over 600 daily flights on 97 routes to 51 destinations
  in Canada this summer, the most of any carrier

MONTREAL, Dec. 6, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada today announced a new service between Montreal and Fort McMurray that will launch next June as part of the carrier’s Canadian summer schedule. For summer 2023, Air Canada is also restoring suspended services and increasing frequencies on popular routes across Canada, as the company augments its Canadian network following the pandemic.

“As the country’s flag carrier, Air Canada’s increased Canadian summer schedule further reinforces our role in providing critical connectivity to Canadians coast-to-coast. Our new Montreal-Fort McMurray service brings easier access from eastern Canada to one of the critical economic hubs of Alberta. And with the prudent restoration of suspended routes and increased frequencies on others, we are improving our customers’ options for domestic travel. We are looking forward to an exceptional summer, with service on 97 domestic routes to 51 Canadian airports, making us the largest Canadian carrier, with the most seats and capacity available for travellers,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

“Furthermore, we’ve built our Canadian summer schedule to synchronize with our recently announced summer international schedule, facilitating connectivity through our hubs for our customers, whether they’re traveling within Canada, across the border to the US, or to our many destinations worldwide. “

New service between Montreal and Fort McMurray will begin June 20, 2023. Flights will be operated year-round, three days a week, by Air Canada Rouge using an Airbus A319 aircraft with 136 seats in a Premium Rouge and Economy Class configuration. With its new Montreal and existing Toronto service, Air Canada will be the only carrier connecting Fort McMurray non-stop to Quebec and Ontario.

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Days of Week
AC1943	Montreal 08:15	Fort McMurray 10:38	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
AC1942	Fort McMurray 12:05	Montreal 17:52	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Air Canada also announced today the resumption of several seasonal routes and one previously suspended route. This includes daily Gander-Toronto flights beginning June 1, London, Ontario-Montreal flights beginning June 17, four-times weekly Fort McMurray-Toronto flights resuming May 1, and three-times weekly Calgary-Quebec City flights starting June 19. In addition, Air Canada is planning daily widebody service on its Ottawa-Vancouver route while also offering multiple options to popular leisure destinations, such as Kelowna and Victoria through its three main hubs.

Frequency Increases

Route	Frequency (Summer 2023 versus Summer 2022)
Edmonton-Montreal	Increases to four times daily from twice daily
Vancouver-Montreal	Increases to six times daily from five daily
Calgary-Toronto	Increases to 13 times daily from 11 daily
Kelowna-Vancouver	Increases to eight times daily from seven daily
Winnipeg-Toronto	Increases to seven times daily from five daily
Saint John-Toronto	Increases to three times daily from once daily
Kelowna-Toronto	Increases to two times daily from once daily
Quebec City-Vancouver	Increases to five times from three times weekly

Aeroplan members can earn and redeem points on all Air Canada flights; and, where available, for eligible customers and Aeroplan members, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits.

On October 13, 2022, Air Canada released its international summer schedule, including new European services.

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.

Lights, camera, action: WestJet’s inaugural flight between Winnipeg and Los Angeles takes off

New transborder flight creates direct link for business, tourism and entertainment between Winnipeg and Los Angeles

 Flight’s departure celebrated gateside alongside partners and film industry leaders

CALGARY, AB, Oct. 31, 2022 /CNW/ – WestJet today celebrated the highly anticipated inaugural flight between Winnipeg and Los Angeles. The departure of flight WS1315 at 7:00 a.m. local marked a major milestone for Manitoba’s tourism, trade and business sectors as Winnipeg gains a seamless four-hour link to the globally renowned film and entertainment mecca.

WestJet’s inaugural flight between Winnipeg and Los Angeles takes off. Photo Credit: Winnipeg Airports Authority (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

“With a thriving film and television industry, our Manitoban guests and partners have long awaited this integral connection and will benefit substantially from convenient flights between both cities,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. “As the only airline providing direct connectivity between Winnipeg and Los Angeles, this route not only supports our efforts to bolster the economic success of the communities we serve but provides a vital link that will stimulate new business, investment and tourism opportunities.”

“The excitement surrounding this new, non-stop route between Winnipeg and Los Angeles has been building ever since it was announced a few months ago,” said Winnipeg Airports Authority President & CEO Nick Hays. “Not only does it significantly enhance the connectivity of the region we serve, but it’s also meaningful for our local economy, particularly the province’s thriving film industry. We’re ecstatic to help bring this valuable route to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and are proud to see our longstanding partnership with WestJet continue to grow to benefit all Manitobans.”

The departure of WS1315 marks the first of three weekly WestJet flights that travel between Winnipeg and Los Angeles on a year-round basis.

Route	Start Date	Frequency	Departure	Arrival
Winnipeg – Los Angeles	October 31, 2022	3x Weekly (Monday, Friday, Saturday)	7:00 am	8:50 am
Los Angeles – Winnipeg	October 31, 2022	3x Weekly (Monday, Friday, Saturday)	9:35 am	3:07 pm

This winter, WestJet will solidify its position as the leading airline in Winnipeg providing more non-stop routes than any other carrier. Further, the WestJet Group will increase capacity to and from Winnipeg by 80 per cent in comparison to 2021, serving 22 nonstop, direct routes and producing the largest year-over-year growth of any major airport in the group’s network.

Delta codeshare partnership

Guests travelling beyond Los Angeles will have access to a broad network and benefits through WestJet’s strong relationship with Delta Air Lines. This includes codeshare flights to 20 major U.S. cities, the ability to earn and redeem WestJet Rewards on both airlines, top tier frequent flyer benefits through the entire journey, and access to Delta’s LAX SkyClub lounge for eligible guests.

Additional quotes

“Manitoba is open for business and we are excited to promote Manitoba’s competitive advantages as our economy enters into a new era of growth,” said Manitoba Premier, Heather Stefanson. “This new direct route between Winnipeg and Los Angeles will support the continued growth of Manitoba’s thriving film, television and digital media industries, as well as many other sectors. I commend WestJet for their confidence and investment in our province, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with them and all of our economic development partners to showcase Manitoba as the ideal place to live, work, visit and invest in.”

About WestJet

In 26 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 110 destinations in 2r countries. 

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

Recent recognition includes: 
2020/2019 Number-One Ranked Canadian Airline Loyalty Program in Member Engagement (Bond Brand Loyalty)
2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for Airlines)
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards for Airlines)
2019/2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)

Winnipeg’s airport continues pandemic bounce back

Web News • 25 October 2022

🔗 Click to View a new window (or tab) will open to an external site reporting on Canadian aviation news.

Sunwing goes galactic with the exciting addition of Melbourne, Florida to its winter lineup

Plus, the tour operator returns to the popular vacation destinations of Orlando and Miami

TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For years, Sunwing has brought Canadians to Florida’s Sunshine State to experience its tropical-like climate and attractive offerings. This winter, the tour operator is thrilled to announce the addition of Melbourne, a brand-new destination along the south of Florida’s Space Coast offering more sun, beach and out-of-this-world exploration.

The tour operator will also be returning to two beloved destinations in the United States this winter with multiple direct flights from Toronto and Montréal, including Orlando, one of Florida’s greatest attractions, and Miami, a popular vacation destination for city exploration and cruise departures.

“This winter, we’re thrilled to be returning to Florida with Melbourne as our newest destination offering for Sunwing customers,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “In addition to the desirable destinations of Orlando and Miami, there’s much to explore along Florida’s Space Coast with beautiful beaches, a historic downtown core and nearby attractions, plus easy access to Port Canaveral for winter cruise sailings. Given the incredible customer demand for sun vacations this winter, we look forward to bringing more customers to Melbourne to experience its family-friendly charm.”

“We are incredibly excited about the new service being offered by Sunwing as it opens up an important market for us,” said Peter Cranis, Executive Director, Space Coast Office of Tourism. “No other country brings more visitors to our region than Canada, and now we have a great opportunity to serve them well as they choose the Space Coast for their winter vacations. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership with Sunwing and introducing Canadians to all that Melbourne has to offer.”

In Melbourne, or “The Harbour City”, travellers can enjoy the sun and sand at Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach and Melbourne Beach, home to one of the world’s most significant Sea Turtle nesting habitats, or tour the local culture in Melbourne’s historic downtown centre with authentic cuisine, famed mural art, shopping and street festivals.

Travellers can also sample fresh seafood in Port Canaveral, tour the Grapefruit Trails in Palm Bay or interact with over 900 animals at Brevard Zoo. Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex, one of Florida’s most popular attractions an hour outside of Melbourne, offers up-close views of Space Shuttle Atlantis, life-sized Mars rover replicas and NASA rockets. Vacationers can also drive to Orlando for a day of fun at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

”The exciting announcement of our partnership with Melbourne Orlando International Airport and Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism comes at a crucial time when demand for holiday and winter travel is at an all-time high,” added Eric Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Partner Development for Sunwing. “Following the recent expansion to the passenger terminal in Melbourne, our customers can enjoy a seamless vacation experience from beginning to end and enjoy their travels in Melbourne with ease. With even more opportunities to discover Florida this winter, we’re confident Melbourne will become a new favourite for Canadians.”

“We are delighted to welcome Sunwing Airlines to Melbourne Orlando International Airport,” said MLB Executive Director Greg Donovan. A.A.E. “The addition of Sunwing to our expanding list of air service partners is an incredible win for MLB and the greater Central Florida community. Through this new partnership, we are providing new international air service options, linking our convenient hometown airport with three major Canadian cities and welcoming thousands of travellers directly to our coastal gateway to Central Florida. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect visitors, relatives and family.”

Whether extending their getaway or stopping in to set sail, Sunwing vacationers can embark on their winter cruise sailings from Port Canaveral and soon book Norwegian Cruise Line Escape for January 2023 departures, visiting exciting ports of call from the Bahamas to the British Virgin Islands, with a range of fun-filled amenities on board.

With a number of hotels coming soon to destination, Sunwing customers can book the Sunshine State for winter travel starting November 1, 2022 with weekly direct flights on board Sunwing Airlines, including:

• Between Toronto and Orlando, daily starting November 1, 2022
• Between Toronto and Melbourne, Saturdays and Wednesdays starting December 10, 2022
• Between Toronto and Miami, Sundays starting December 18, 2022
• Between Winnipeg and Melbourne, Saturdays starting December 10, 2022
• Between Montréal and Miami, Sundays starting December 18, 2022
• Between Halifax and Melbourne, Fridays starting February 10, 2023

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.