Air Travel

WestJet Airlines pilots stand on a picket line at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Monday May 8, 2023. The travel plans of WestJet customers are up in the air after its pilots’ union issued a 72-hour strike notice last night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

WestJet customers holding their breath as strike notice jeopardizes travel plans

‘I don’t have that extra money to pay for another flight, so we are essentially screwed here’

WestJet Airlines pilots stand on a picket line at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Monday May 8, 2023. The travel plans of WestJet customers are up in the air after its pilots’ union issued a 72-hour strike notice last night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Members of the Air Line Pilots Association demonstrate amid contract negotiations outside the WestJet headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 31, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Union says WestJet pilots issue 72-hour strike notice, plan job action Friday

Union represents some 1,600 flight crew at WestJet and subsidiary Swoop

Members of the Air Line Pilots Association demonstrate amid contract negotiations outside the WestJet headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 31, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. 	Pilots are speaking out against an aviation industry push toward a sole crew member in the cockpit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Pilots decry industry push for solo flying

Union says proposal by Europe’s aviation regulator aims to boost profits at the expense of safety

A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. 	Pilots are speaking out against an aviation industry push toward a sole crew member in the cockpit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Bell is teaming up with Air Canada to offer free messaging for all Aeroplan members worldwide on Wi-Fi-equipped airplanes across the air carrier’s fleet. An Air Canada flight departing for Calgary takes off at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Bell to offer free messaging for Aeroplan members on Air Canada flights

Bell is teaming up with Air Canada to offer free messaging for…

Bell is teaming up with Air Canada to offer free messaging for all Aeroplan members worldwide on Wi-Fi-equipped airplanes across the air carrier’s fleet. An Air Canada flight departing for Calgary takes off at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Travellers wait in line at a check-in desk at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Canadian airports and airlines yielded a large number of flight delays last month, raising questions about their readiness for the summer travel rush. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Weak on-time record of Canadian airports, airlines raises questions for summer travel

Air Canada’s on-time arrivals rate was 57.3 per cent in March versus 69.6 per cent in March 2019

Travellers wait in line at a check-in desk at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Canadian airports and airlines yielded a large number of flight delays last month, raising questions about their readiness for the summer travel rush. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks at a news conference on proposed changes to air passenger rights, in Ottawa, on Monday, April 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Passenger rights overhaul draws criticism from both sides — airlines and advocates

Canada trying to close loopholes that allow airlines to avoid compensating people for cancellations

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks at a news conference on proposed changes to air passenger rights, in Ottawa, on Monday, April 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Russian airspace ban means pricier flights for Canadian travellers and airlines. A flight arrives at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C. Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Russian airspace ban means pricier flights for Canadian travellers and airlines

Some airlines having to reroute flights on hours-long delays to get to destinations in Asia, Middle East

The Russian airspace ban means pricier flights for Canadian travellers and airlines. A flight arrives at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C. Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
An Air Canada Express aircraft on approach to land at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., travels past construction cranes at the Oakridge Centre mall redevelopment in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Officials with Vancouver International Airport are promising new real-time weather monitoring equipment, gate protocols and better communication after releasing a review of the travel chaos caused by snow last December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver airport promising improvements following Christmas season travel mess

Report: two dozen aircraft with passengers aboard waited up to 11 hours on the tarmac

An Air Canada Express aircraft on approach to land at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., travels past construction cranes at the Oakridge Centre mall redevelopment in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Officials with Vancouver International Airport are promising new real-time weather monitoring equipment, gate protocols and better communication after releasing a review of the travel chaos caused by snow last December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A WestJet plane waits at a gate at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Regional routes see higher airfares, fewer flights even as new carriers emerge

On a cold, cloudy Thursday night in February, Donovan Onishenko arrived at…

A WestJet plane waits at a gate at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
People make their way through Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The federal budget has air travel on the radar, laying out plans to speed up airport security screening and reduce flight delays.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Frustration, anticipation mark industry response to budget’s flight delay fixes

Budget promises $1.8 billion over five years to improve passenger screening

People make their way through Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The federal budget has air travel on the radar, laying out plans to speed up airport security screening and reduce flight delays.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Aerial view of Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

A new way to travel: Vancouver-based company opens marketplace for private flights

Airble partners with air operators for flexible air travel options

  • Mar 16, 2023
Aerial view of Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
The Transportation Safety Board says pilots in Canada need better guidelines for screening heart-related conditions. A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Transportation Safety Board urges better medical screening guidelines for pilots

At least 8 plane crashes in the past 20 years tied to Canadian pilot heart conditions

The Transportation Safety Board says pilots in Canada need better guidelines for screening heart-related conditions. A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
An airliner cuts through the skies over Montreal, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. An aviation expert says the seizure of four Flair Airlines planes over the weekend points to the fierce competition and high demand playing out in the Canadian air travel industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Seizure of Flair airplanes points to stiff competition in aviation

Airline has since “initiated” lease payments, called seizures ‘unprecedented … extreme and unusual’

An airliner cuts through the skies over Montreal, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. An aviation expert says the seizure of four Flair Airlines planes over the weekend points to the fierce competition and high demand playing out in the Canadian air travel industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Airports and airlines are preparing for a surge in passengers ahead of spring break. Beachgoers face the sun on Fort Lauderdale beach, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marta Lavandier

Airports gear up for passenger surge as spring break tests their capacity

Travellers concerned severe staffing shortages and high worker attrition can lead to trouble

Airports and airlines are preparing for a surge in passengers ahead of spring break. Beachgoers face the sun on Fort Lauderdale beach, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marta Lavandier
An Air Canada jet takes off from Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Passenger numbers are finally approaching pre-pandemic levels after Canadians emerged blinking from COVID-19 confinement last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

With airfares rising, here’s how to find a travel deal this year

Competition creating good value on Canadian domestic flights

An Air Canada jet takes off from Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Passenger numbers are finally approaching pre-pandemic levels after Canadians emerged blinking from COVID-19 confinement last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on May 13, 2019. A group of airlines are asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their case after a lower court ruling largely upheld the validity of Canada's air passenger bill of rights. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Airlines ask Supreme Court to hear case on passenger bill of rights

Bill bolsters compensation for air travellers subjected to delayed flights and damaged luggage

A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on May 13, 2019. A group of airlines are asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their case after a lower court ruling largely upheld the validity of Canada's air passenger bill of rights. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Passengers walk past Air Canada and WestJet planes at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet temporarily suspends service from 3 Canadian cities to Europe

WestJet says it has temporarily suspended transatlantic service between three Canadian cities…

Passengers walk past Air Canada and WestJet planes at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Experts say the low-cost airline model is exacerbating an already existing pilot shortage that threatens to become an even bigger problem for this country’s aviation industry in the years to come. A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Surge of discount airlines making Canada’s pilot shortage worse: experts

Aging workforce, pandemic-related layoffs, early retirements, spiralling training costs all factors

Experts say the low-cost airline model is exacerbating an already existing pilot shortage that threatens to become an even bigger problem for this country’s aviation industry in the years to come. A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
An Air Canada aircraft taxis at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Airlines top list of who to blame for 2022 holiday travel chaos across Canada, survey says

More Canadians blame weather and airlines rather than the federal government for December’s flight cancellations

An Air Canada aircraft taxis at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
FILE - A Honolulu Police vehicle is parked outside of The Queen’s Medical Center, where some patients injured by air turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu were taken, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Honolulu. A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board released Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, says the pilots of a Hawaiian Air plane that hit severe turbulence last month told investigators they had less than three seconds to react after a cloud shot up vertically in front of them at 38,000 feet on an otherwise clear day. Twenty-five people were injured in the Dec. 13, 2022, incident, including six who were seriously hurt. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)

Report: Cloud shot up in front of plane before turbulence rocked Hawaiian flight

25 people on board were injured in December flight from Phoenix to Honolulu

FILE - A Honolulu Police vehicle is parked outside of The Queen’s Medical Center, where some patients injured by air turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu were taken, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Honolulu. A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board released Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, says the pilots of a Hawaiian Air plane that hit severe turbulence last month told investigators they had less than three seconds to react after a cloud shot up vertically in front of them at 38,000 feet on an otherwise clear day. Twenty-five people were injured in the Dec. 13, 2022, incident, including six who were seriously hurt. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)