As some countries in Europe and North America prepare to release travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are starting to put in place protocols to protect the health of air passengers and airline staff. Transport Canada, the country's aviation regulator, issued new measures that will come into effect at 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 20. When traveling by air, all travelers will be asked to cover their mouth and nose…
Porter Airlines has received funding to help it through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Toronto-based airline has received around CAD 135 million dollars ($96 Million USD) through Export Development Canada, with the funding secured by a portion of its fleet. The airline has suspended operations since March 20, with a tentative…
The outbreak of Covid-19 has brought the aviation industry to its knees and airlines to the brink of bankruptcy. However, in Canada, a different story is emerging from the country’s two largest airlines. Global News experts have stated both Air Canada and WestJet appear to have enough cash in order…
WestJet on Thursday announced its upcoming nonstop flights between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Manchester, U.K. The flights will be operated as a summer seasonal service four times per week using the airline's fleet of Boeing 737s. The new route marks WestJet's sixth European destination and third in the U.K. following…
During a special meeting held at WestJet’s headquarters in Calgary on Tuesday, airline shareholders and option holders overwhelmingly voted to approve the acquisition agreement reached by WestJet and Onex Corporation (Onex) on May 12, 2019. Under the terms of the purchase, Onex and its affiliated funds will acquire all outstanding…
Calgary-based WestJet launched seasonal nonstop flights to Barcelona's El Prat Airport from its hub at Toronto on Friday, marking WestJet's fifth transatlantic service. Joining the list of the airline's mostly seasonal European operation, this is also the airline's first flight to Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. The new service will…
On Thursday, Air Canada announced that it has commenced exclusive talks with fellow Quebec-based Transat A.T. Inc., owner of Air Transat, for a full takeover of the Canadian leisure carrier. The publically proposed transaction is valued at approximately $387.5 million or $13.00 per share, a 23 percent premium to the…
A special celebration at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday marked the first WestJet flight to the capital of Georgia. The event included a special speech by the Atlanta Airport General Manager, John Selden, and a speech by WestJet CFO, Harry Taylor followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. WestJet became…
Canada’s three major airlines individually announced this month that they would seek shareholder approval to amend their articles of incorporation to increase the limits of foreign ownership. The official announcements by St. Laurent, Quebec-based Air Canada, Calgary-based WestJet and Montreal-based Air Transat follow the passing of the Transportation Modernization Act…
The delivery of WestJet’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in mid-January marked an exciting new chapter for the Calgary-based carrier. Known for its low-cost business model that's only been partly rivaled in Canada, WestJet is transforming further into a full-service carrier as it only recently started true long-haul service to Europe…
