Travel – Winnipeg Free Press

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS in Dusseldorf and Cologne

Steve MacNaull 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 3, 2023

The undulating circus net makes every step an exaggerated, elongated, elastic bounce.

It’s the perfect gait to collide into and climb five giant transparent spheres suspended beneath the glass rooftop, 25 metres above the airy, white atrium.

I’m at the Kunst 21 contemporary art gallery in Dusseldorf — of all places — romping like a kindergartener in this elaborate art installation.

It’s called In Orbit by Argentine artist Tomas Saraceno, who now lives in Germany, and it’s meant to be experienced as well as admired.

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Flair tops airlines with level of complaints: CTA

Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Flair tops airlines with level of complaints: CTA

Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:52 PM CDT

TORONTO - Flair Airlines Ltd. has the highest number of complaints per 100 flights of all the major airlines in Canada, according to the Canadian Transportation Agency, as airlines have had a rocky recovery year with delayed and cancelled flights.

Between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023, Flair saw an average of 15.3 complaints per 100 flights according to the report published in late April.

Sunwing Airlines Inc. came second at 13.8 complaints per 100 flights, and Swoop Inc. was third at 13.2. Meanwhile, WestJet had 6.6 complaints per 100 flights, Air Canada had 4.3 and Air Transat averaged 3.3 complaints.

Flair saw four of its leased planes seized in March because of overdue payments, causing hundreds of cancelled flights.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:52 PM CDT

The tail section of a Flair Airlines plane is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Flair Airlines *MANDATORY CREDIT*

James Cameron's submersible on display in Ottawa

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

James Cameron's submersible on display in Ottawa

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 10:04 AM CDT

OTTAWA - The Royal Canadian Geographical Society says its summer exhibition will offer an up-close look at the submersible that brought Canadian-born director James Cameron to the deepest part of the ocean.

The exhibition, "Pressure: James Cameron Into the Abyss," features the submersible Deepsea Challenger.

Cameron solo piloted the submersible 11 kilometres below the ocean's surface to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 2012.

That expedition was the basis of the 2014 documentary "Deepsea Challenge."

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Yesterday at 10:04 AM CDT

This February 2012 photo, provided by National Geographic, shows explorer and filmmaker James Cameron emerging from the hatch of DEEPSEA CHALLENGER during testing of the submersible in Jervis Bay, south of Sydney, Australia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - AP, National Geographic, Mark Thiessen *MANDATORY CREDIT*

France’s spectacular abbey Mont-Saint-Michel celebrates 1,000th birthday

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

France’s spectacular abbey Mont-Saint-Michel celebrates 1,000th birthday

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:34 PM CDT

PARIS (AP) — France’s beloved abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel has reached a ripe old age. It's been 1,000 years since the laying of its first stone.

The millennial of the UNESCO World Heritage site and key Normandy tourism magnet is being celebrated until November with exhibits, dance shows and concerts. And now a presidential visit.

French President Emmanuel Macron went there Monday and delivered a speech in which he called on the French to “push themselves further” in global and existential challenges like that of climate change. He drew a comparison with the abbey that has stood strong over time and embodies the “French spirit” of “resilience” and “resistance.” It was veiled rhetoric, coming one day before another protest against his contested pension reform law that has been passed.

Ever since former President François Mitterrand in 1983, France’s leaders have flocked to this symbolically important site to send out political messages. In 2007, former President Nicolas Sarkozy even launched his presidential campaign there.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:34 PM CDT

FILE - Sheeps graze in the fields around the Mont Saint Michel, Wednesday, May 8, 2018, in western France. France’s beloved abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel has reached a ripe old age. It's been 1,000 years since the laying of its first stone. The millennial of the UNESCO World Heritage site and key Normandy tourism magnet is being celebrated until November with exhibits, dance shows and concerts. French President Emmanuel Macron is heading there on Monday, June 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Cruise ships to avoid Eclipse Sound this summer

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Cruise ships to avoid Eclipse Sound this summer

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 3, 2023

POND INLET, Nunavut - A marine conservation charity and Inuit hunters are praising cruise operators for agreeing to avoid a Nunavut waterway where thousands of narwhal migrate each summer.

The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators recently said its members' ships would not travel through Eclipse Sound this summer and instead go through the Pond Inlet strait.

Oceans North and the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization had requested the move as numbers of summering narwhal in the area off the northeastern coast of Baffin Island have decreased, which they say is due to increased shipping traffic.

“Narwhal continue to decline in our area and have not bounced back to historical numbers as we had hoped," David Qamaniq, chair of the hunters and trappers organization, said in a news release. "We thank the cruise ship operators for working with us this year to protect the animals that remain."

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Saturday, Jun. 3, 2023

Narwhals swim between sea ice floating in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in this July 22, 2017, file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David Goldman

BMO completes purchase of Air Miles program

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

BMO completes purchase of Air Miles program

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023

TORONTO - BMO Financial Group closed its acquisition of the Air Miles loyalty rewards program in Canada on Thursday, saying it plans to expand the program with new ways to earn and redeem points.

"Going forward, BMO ownership gives the program stability, but more importantly, the opportunity for us to invest in the program," said Air Miles president Shawn Stewart.

BMO announced in March it would purchase Air Miles after the program's U.S. parent company filed for bankruptcy. The bank's so-called stalking horse offer for LoyaltyOne Co. was US$160 million, subject to certain adjustments, according to court documents.

With the bank's ownership, Stewart says he's excited for the program's new chapter.

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Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023

Air Canada failing francophone flyers: report

Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Air Canada failing francophone flyers: report

Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, May. 30, 2023

OTTAWA - Whether travelling by plane, train or automobile, francophone travellers are struggling to access services in their language, Canada's official languages commissioner said Tuesday.

Raymond Théberge said it's an ongoing struggle that has gotten worse in the last decade, especially as people begin travelling again.

"After more than two years of the (COVID-19) pandemic, Canadians have finally been able to return to a certain degree of normalcy and resume activities that were put on hold due to pandemic-related health restrictions," Théberge told reporters Tuesday after presenting his annual report.

"This normalcy, however, has highlighted official language issues that I've repeatedly raised in the past, but are still very much present."

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Tuesday, May. 30, 2023

Official Languages Commissioner Raymond Theberge responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday May 9, 2019. Theberge says Canadian travellers — particularly francophones — are struggling to get service in their official language of choice from Air Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

How to plan a backpacking trip on a budget

Pascale Malenfant, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

How to plan a backpacking trip on a budget

Pascale Malenfant, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Tuesday, May. 30, 2023

For young Canadians hoping to take a trip on a budget, there's a new challenge on the horizon beyond finding a way to fit all of one’s necessities into a backpack: the lingering effects of high inflation.

According to StudentUniverse, a student and youth-focused travel agency, the top concern for young people who wish to travel is the financial cost. However, with the right approach and mindset, spending a few months in Europe may not be as far out of reach as you might think.

“One of the most important things to consider before planning a large-scale trip is to think about what kind of traveller you are,” said Will Jones, global brand manager at StudentUniverse. After spending years educating youth on frugal travel strategies, he's careful not to hand out general advice that doesn’t account for the specific goals of the each traveller.

“Different people are going to prioritize different things. For example, if you’re particularly keen on trying out different cuisines, then cutting costs on food by cooking in a hostel kitchen probably isn’t the best choice for you.”

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Tuesday, May. 30, 2023

Experts say booking ahead of time, watching for youth discounts and avoiding restaurants close to tourist attractions are ways to save money while travelling. Backpackers enter a youth hostel in Brussels, Thursday July 31, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Robert Wielaard

Computer issue briefly grounds Air Canada flights

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Computer issue briefly grounds Air Canada flights

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Thursday, May. 25, 2023

MONTREAL - Air Canada briefly grounded its planes Thursday due to a problem with its computer system, delaying nearly half its flights.

A "technical issue" with the system the airline uses to communicate with aircraft and monitor their performance prompted a halt to operations, the Montreal-based company said.

"There have been some delays as a result, but the system is now returning to normal, and the precautionary ground stop has been lifted," said spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick in a statement Thursday afternoon.

"The effects were limited."

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Thursday, May. 25, 2023

Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Ottawa rejigs trusted-traveller program

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Ottawa rejigs trusted-traveller program

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Tuesday, May. 23, 2023

MONTREAL - The federal government has rolled out a revamp of its trusted-traveller program to clear any clogged airports as the summer travel season kicks off.

A tweaked "verified-traveller program" will open dedicated security screening lines at six of the country's biggest airports between June 7 and June 21, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Tuesday.

"As membership grows over time, the new verified-traveller program will help improve the screening experience for more and more passengers while supporting the highest standards of safety and security," Alghabra said during a news conference at Toronto's Pearson airport.

Program changes include allowing trusted travellers to keep their shoes, belt and jacket on throughout screening. They can leave laptops and liquids in their bags instead of placing them separately onto the X-ray conveyor belt. And they can now have children under 18 and adults 75 accompany them through the expedited queues.

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Tuesday, May. 23, 2023

The federal government is announcing a revamp of its trusted-traveller program to help clear clogged airports as the summer travel season kicks off. People line up before entering the security at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Friday, August 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Duffing in the Dominican Republic

Darron Hargreaves 9 minute read Preview

Duffing in the Dominican Republic

Darron Hargreaves 9 minute read Saturday, May. 20, 2023

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — You could call it a one course town. This smallish city on the north coast of the Caribbean island nation isn’t known as a golf destination. It offers only one 18-hole golf course. But it’s no ham-fisted mutt’s layout. The Playa Dorada is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, one of the two he has built in the DR. Completed in 1979 it has hosted three PGA LatinoAmerica Tour events, most recently in 2020. It plays to 7,000 yards from the tips, is usually very green and recently has been well maintained after a period of some neglect. It has a driving range, short-game area, pro shop and clubhouse. Most notably it is affordable, about 50-60 per cent less expensive than resort courses further east down the coast in Punta Cana, which for now is a much more popular tourist/golf destination. Here’s a quick overview of this part of the world.

The Area

Puerto Plata, population approximately 470,000 is a colonial burg with a past. Founded by Nicolás de Ovando in 1502, the city was named for its iridescent silver coastline at sunset and made official by a personal decree signed by Christopher Columbus. To protect against potential pirate attacks, the Fort of San Felipe was constructed in the mid-sixteenth century. With beaches and ocean on one side and lush mountains with the requisite waterfalls and trekking trails on the other, there is more to enjoy outside the city than in.

Playa Dorada (Golden Beach)

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Saturday, May. 20, 2023

Air Canada to launch Toronto-Yellowknife route

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Air Canada to launch Toronto-Yellowknife route

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Friday, May. 19, 2023

MONTREAL - Air Canada is launching non-stop, year-round service between Toronto and Yellowknife that it says will help support both tourism and business in the region.

The route, which will fly three times a week, is expected to start service in December.

The Montreal-based airline says customers will also be able to seamlessly connect from Yellowknife to flights by its partner airline Canadian North.

Mark Galardo, executive vice-president of revenue and network planning, says flights will be timed for easy connections through Toronto to elsewhere in Eastern Canada, the U.S. and sunny destinations.

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Friday, May. 19, 2023

Air Canada says it's launching non-stop, year-round service between Toronto and Yellowknife. The route, which will fly three times a week, is expected to start service in December. An Air Canada plane sits on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Disney World’s “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” hotel to close

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Disney World’s “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” hotel to close

The Associated Press 1 minute read Friday, May. 19, 2023

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — No more premium stay in a galaxy far, far away: Disney World's “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” hotel is making its last voyage at the end of September.

The hotel at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida opened in March 2022 and lets guests create and live out “Star Wars” immersive adventures. It costs nearly $5,000 per couple for a two-night stay.

“This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans,” a company spokesperson said in a statement Friday.

Disney said on the hotel's website that new bookings are “temporarily paused” but will resume May 26 for available voyages through Sept. 28-30.

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Friday, May. 19, 2023

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — No more premium stay in a galaxy far, far away: Disney World's “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” hotel is making its last voyage at the end of September.

The hotel at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida opened in March 2022 and lets guests create and live out “Star Wars” immersive adventures. It costs nearly $5,000 per couple for a two-night stay.

“This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans,” a company spokesperson said in a statement Friday.

Disney said on the hotel's website that new bookings are “temporarily paused” but will resume May 26 for available voyages through Sept. 28-30.

WestJet ramping up after reaching deal with pilots

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

WestJet ramping up after reaching deal with pilots

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, May. 19, 2023

WestJet continued to ramp up operations on Friday in an effort to restore the long weekend travel plans of thousands of passengers upended by flight cancellations before the airline reached a last-minute deal with its pilots.

Travellers stuck at airports expressed frustration with cancellations and delays, while others took to social media with stories of ruined vacations.

WestJet warned that the full resumption of operations will take time, and encouraged travellers to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative deal to avoid the job action early Friday morning after eight months of negotiations.

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Friday, May. 19, 2023

A line at the WestJet counter at the airport in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet, pilots reach 11th-hour deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

WestJet, pilots reach 11th-hour deal

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, May. 19, 2023

CALGARY - WestJet and its pilots union say they have reached a last-minute deal, averting a strike ahead of the May long weekend.

A statement from the Air Line Pilots Association says union leaders voted to approve an agreement-in-principle, with a membership vote to begin in the coming days.

The airline had grounded the bulk of its fleet Thursday, including for its Swoop subsidiary, parking their 130 planes at airports from Vancouver to Halifax and leaving thousands of travellers in limbo across the country.

The shutdown affected dozens of routes within Canada and to the U.S. and overseas, while flights at the WestJet Encore regional service and the WestJet-owned Sunwing Airlines were unaffected.

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Friday, May. 19, 2023

WestJet has started to cancel flights as talks with the pilots’ union remained at a “critical impasse,” the company said in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CP NewsAlert: WestJet, pilots reach 11th-hour deal

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

CP NewsAlert: WestJet, pilots reach 11th-hour deal

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Friday, May. 19, 2023

WestJet and its pilots union say they have reached a last-minute deal, averting a strike ahead of the May long weekend.

More to come...

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.

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Friday, May. 19, 2023

WestJet and its pilots union say they have reached a last-minute deal, averting a strike ahead of the May long weekend.

More to come...

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.

Five things to know about the WestJet pilot strike

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Five things to know about the WestJet pilot strike

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Thursday, May. 18, 2023

The clock is ticking on an impending pilot strike at WestJet and its Swoop subsidiary, threatening the long weekend travel plans of thousands of passengers.

The Air Line Pilots Association served the airline a strike notice after talks between the company and the union representing some 1,800 pilots hit an impasse.

WestJet preemptively cancelled more than 100 flights on Thursday ahead of the looming strike deadline of 5 a.m. ET on Friday.

The airline said it will continue to operate its regional services, including its fleet of 47 planes at WestJet Encore and WestJet Link. Regional pilots are not involved in the current bargaining.

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Thursday, May. 18, 2023

WestJet Airlines pilots assemble for a group photo after standing on a picket line at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Monday May 8, 2023. The clock is ticking on an impending pilot strike at WestJet and its Swoop subsidiary, threatening the long weekend travel plans of thousands of passengers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Air Canada signs partnership deal with Flydubai

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Air Canada signs partnership deal with Flydubai

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Wednesday, May. 17, 2023

MONTREAL - Air Canada has announced a partnership with Flydubai that will offer more options for travellers headed to destinations in the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia.

Mark Galardo, Air Canada's executive vice-president for revenue and network planning, says the partnership complements the airline's non-stop service to Dubai from Toronto and Vancouver.

Under the deal, an Air Canada marketing code will be placed on nine Flydubai routes from Dubai that will give travellers the ability to travel to those markets with the issuance of a single ticket.

The agreement also includes an interline arrangement that will see customers easily connect in Dubai to more than 60 destinations served by Flydubai.

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Wednesday, May. 17, 2023

Air Canada has announced a partnership with Flydubai that will offer more options for travellers headed to destinations in the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia. Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada, U.S. to build bilateral charging corridor

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada, U.S. to build bilateral charging corridor

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, May. 16, 2023

WASHINGTON - Canada and the U.S. are teaming up to build a corridor of charging stations between Quebec City and Michigan to encourage motorists in both countries to buy more electric vehicles.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg unveiled their Alternative Fuel Corridor at an event in Detroit.

Charging infrastructure would be installed every 80 kilometres and include at least one direct current fast charger compatible with the Combined Charging System standard.

The corridor is expected to run 1,400 kilometres from Quebec City to Kalamazoo, Mich., linking Montreal, Toronto and Detroit along the way.

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Tuesday, May. 16, 2023

An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Canada and the U.S. are teaming up to build a corridor of charging stations between Quebec City and Michigan to encourage motorists in both countries to buy more electric vehicles.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

WestJet pilots issue 72-hour strike notice

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

WestJet pilots issue 72-hour strike notice

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Monday, May. 15, 2023

CALGARY - WestJet pilots have issued a 72-hour strike notice to the company and the government, according to the union that represents them, and they warn the airline could be shut down right before the May long weekend.

The Air Line Pilots Association said in a news release late Monday that pilots plan to begin lawful job action early Friday morning, which the release said "could include grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations."

“Flight disruptions are never an ideal outcome, especially given the tremendous support our guests have shown us, and we want to continue being a major contributor to our company’s success by helping WestJet realize its growth strategy,” Bernard Lewall, who heads the union's WestJet contingent, said in the news release.

“However, WestJet pilots will withdraw our services to secure a contract that will fix many of the airline’s labour problems and make it a career destination for pilots once again.”

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Monday, May. 15, 2023

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

Montreal restaurants dominate 100 Best list

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Montreal restaurants dominate 100 Best list

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Monday, May. 15, 2023

TORONTO - Montreal restaurants dominate Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List with 27 eateries on the annual ranking, led by Mon Lapin in the No. 1 spot.

The 2023 list of exceptional eateries includes several Michelin-starred restaurants including Toronto’s contemporary French favourite Alo in second place, Vancouver’s locally-sourced Published on Main in third and Toronto’s Edulis in fourth.

Published on Main previously held the top spot on the 2022 list of best restaurants.

Toronto is home to 18 of the hotspots, including the double Michelin-starred Sushi Masaki Saito in 19th place. Vancouver has 15 restaurants on the list — including four in the top 10 — Ottawa has eight, Calgary has seven and Halifax boasts four.

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Monday, May. 15, 2023

Montreal restaurants dominate Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List with 27 eateries on the annual ranking. Mon Lapin, shown in this handout image, has the number 1 spot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Dominique Lafond
**MANDATORY CREDIT **

Travel and tourism set for big rebound: Report

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Travel and tourism set for big rebound: Report

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Monday, May. 15, 2023

MONTREAL - Canada's travel and tourism sector is poised for a big post-pandemic rebound, according to a report from the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The industry is set to contribute $162.6 billion to the Canadian economy in 2023, up 17 per cent from last year, the council said in its latest research. The forecast also comes within sight of the previous peak of $173.9 billion in 2019.

If achieved, the activity would furnish about 90,000 more jobs to reach 1.64 million this year, recovering nearly all the travel and tourism positions scrapped during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, spending from overseas travellers bound for Canada ballooned by 64 per cent to $23 billion, the report said. Council president Julia Simpson said the trend is likely to continue, bringing the expected total this year closer to 2019's $43 billion.

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Monday, May. 15, 2023

People are shown at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Friday, March 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Air Canada nearly doubles revenue, ekes out profit

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Air Canada nearly doubles revenue, ekes out profit

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Friday, May. 12, 2023

MONTREAL - Air Canada reported that first-quarter revenue nearly doubled compared with a year earlier as travellers hopped back on airplanes en masse — even as higher costs tamped down net earnings.

Buoyed by a record $4.9 billion in revenue, the quarter marked the second in a row where the carrier has turned a profit following 11 straight quarters of losses totalling $10.1 billion.

Net income amounted to $4 million, in stark contrast to $974 million in losses a year ago.

Chief executive Michael Rousseau said the results for the three months ended March 31 beat out all expectations for a traditionally weaker quarter, and that he believes demand will persist amid strong advance bookings for the rest of the year. They hit $5.3 billion at the end of March, up from $4.1 billion a year earlier.

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Friday, May. 12, 2023

An Air Canada Airbus A220-300 airliner from Toronto arrives at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. on Monday, June 28, 2021.Air Canada reported its first-quarter revenue nearly doubled compared with a year ago, boosted by strong demand.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

WestJet connects Winnipeg to Atlanta

Martin Cash 4 minute read Preview

WestJet connects Winnipeg to Atlanta

Martin Cash 4 minute read Thursday, May. 11, 2023

Winnipeg travellers are about to be connected the busiest airport hub in the world — Atlanta — via direct, five-times-per-week WestJet flights, starting in September.

Aided by up to $5 million worth of incentives from the provincial government, it is the second major new route out of Winnipeg Richardson International Airport initiated by Calgary-based WestJet in the past seven months.

The airline started its daily Winnipeg-to-Los Angeles service in November.

Establishment of both routes was assisted by a new funding subsidy provided by the province, which kicks in if certain thresholds of passenger counts are not met.

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Thursday, May. 11, 2023

Winnipeg to see new direct flights to Atlanta

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Winnipeg to see new direct flights to Atlanta

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, May. 11, 2023

WINNIPEG - WestJet is to start new direct flights between Winnipeg and Atlanta in September with a financial backstop from the Manitoba government.

The five-times-a-week, year-round service is aimed at connecting Winnipeg with a major Delta Air Lines hub and allowing for quick connections to destinations around the globe.

"Manitobans will be able to connect to more than 200 vacation destinations throughout the U.S., the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia," Premier Heather Stefanson said Thursday.

The direct, three-hour flight may also make for improved trade. Gerry Price, chief executive officer of Price Industries, said the new flights will address long travel times that have been a hurdle for American customers of his manufacturing company.

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Thursday, May. 11, 2023

June 6, 2023

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