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OCTOBER
2007
Canadian Airports Council Decries Subsidization Of Via Rail T
he Canadian Airports Council (CAC) has issued a statement that decries the continued subsidization of Via Rail to the tune of nearly $692-million while Canada’s aviation sector suffers from competitiveness challenges. The statement by the CAC came after the federal government announced earlier this month that it would provide $691.9-million in capital and oper-
ating funding to Via Rail. “Canada’s civil aviation sector already suffers a serious competitive disadvantage to other modes of travel, and airports across the border in the U.S., due to airport rent and other forms of high taxation,” said CAC president and CEO, Jim Facette. “Canada’s airports generate some $30-billion in economic output and employ more
than 150,000 people, while facilitating international and domestic trade and tourism. To pump millions of dollars into a competitor is inexplicable.” According to the CAC, Canada’s airports pay nearly $300-million a year in the form of rent to the federal government, while shouldering the financial responsibility of more than $9.5-billion in capital improvements
Savings Of Up To 40% With Air Canada’s Hong Kong And China Flight Pass
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ir Canada has introduced a multi-trip Flight Pass to Hong Kong and China. With the “Hong Kong and China Pass,” customers save up to 40 per cent off regular economy fares by pre-purchasing six one-way trips (three round trips) valid up to one year for travel to Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, from anywhere Air Canada and Jazz fly in Canada. Air Canada is offering special introductory prices until October
25, 2007, starting at $2,548 from Western Canada ($425 per oneway trip including all taxes and charges). In addition, customers will receive a complimentary bonus pass valid for two one-way trips anywhere Air Canada flies within Canada, or between Canada and the continental United States. By pre-purchasing air travel in bulk, Air Canada’s Flight Pass holders benefit from significant savings, a single pre-payment valid for future air travel up to one year
and the convenience to manage bookings online. Moreover, pass prices include airport fees and surcharges. Air Canada operates twicedaily non-stop flights each to Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai for six non-stop flights per day—the most of any airline. Customers can learn more about how to select and use Flight Passes by taking the interactive virtual tour “What’s a Flight Pass?” at www. aircanada.com.
over the past decade. In addition to rent, which is passed on to airlines and their passengers, the government charges civil aviation with fuel excise taxes, the air traveller’s security charge and other tax and regulatory costs. “Canada’s 100-million air travellers a year will pay nearly $300-million in rent this year, while the government puts nearly $700-million to benefit Via Rail’s 4.1-million passen-
gers,” said Facette. “This is a double standard that clearly must end.” CAC’s 47 members comprise more than 150 airports, including all of the National Airports Systems (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95 per cent of domestic passenger traffic.
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national charitable organization that provides free air transportation for financially burdened Canadians in need of medical treatment outside their community. “Hope Air’s mandate is getting Canadians to where they can get better, and this year no one has been more generous than WestJet when it comes to the gift of flight,” said Doug Keller-Hobson, executive Director of Hope Air. “WestJet’s gift of flight will have increased by 28 per cent over 2006 and they have donated more flights to Hope Air than any other airline this year.” Competitors from 26 Canadian and one U.S. city to which WestJet’s flies raised awareness for Hope Air as they attended the Airports Games in Calgary. The games bring groundhandling crew and customer-service agents together to compete in a variety of airport-related events, such as a “chock wagon” race, stanchion maze construction and a baggage tractor pull, in a fun and friendly competitive atmosphere.
WestJet Celebrates Milestone In Giving ast month, WestJet announced a significant milestone in community investment at the bi-annual WestJet Airports Games in Calgary. This year, WestJet Cares for Kids, the airline’s community investment program, will donate 800 gifts of flight to Hope Air surpassing last year’s gift of 627 flights. Hope Air, one of WestJet’s longest standing charitable partners, is a
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WestJet Adds Web Check-In For Transborder And International Flights
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assengers flying to and from any WestJet destination, domestic, transborder, or international, can now check in online any time from 24 hours up to one hour before their flight. The airline launched Web checkin for domestic flights in April 2004 and expanded this to transborder and international destinations last month. “WestJet continues to bring new innovations to our guests,” said Dale Tinevez, WestJet vice-president of airports. “We are committed to offering the best possible guest experience from the time of booking to final destination arrival, and the checkin process plays a large part in that experience. Close to 60 per cent of our guests use a self-serve checkin option within Canada, and we believe we will see the same with our growing transborder and international service.” WestJet passengers now have four options for check in: Web check in, cell-phone check in, kiosk check in, and traditional counter check in. WestJet was recently the first airline in North America to launch the electronic boarding pass (for domestic flights only). To learn more about these products visit WestJet.com.