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Category: Halifax YHZ

  • Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo Inaugurate Freighter Service Into Halifax

    • High frequency, direct freighter capacity from Nova Scotia to Air Canada Cargo’s global network

    MONTREAL, April 20, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo today operated the first dedicated freighter flight into Halifax Stanfield International Airport using the second Boeing 767-300ER to enter service. The addition of this aircraft will allow Air Canada Cargo to start high frequency, direct freighter capacity from Halifax to Air Canada Cargo’s global network, including service to Frankfurt, Cologne, Istanbul, and Madrid, starting in May.

    Air Canada's Boeing 767-300ER freighter receives a water cannon salute on its first arrival into Halifax on April 20, 2022 (CNW Group/Air Canada)
    Air Canada’s Boeing 767-300ER freighter receives a water cannon salute on its first arrival into Halifax on April 20, 2022 (CNW Group/Air Canada)

    Today’s flight from Toronto arrived in Halifax with freight coming from around Air Canada’s global network and destined for Atlantic Canada. It will be loaded up with fresh lobster, fish, aerospace parts, and pharmaceuticals for its journey back to Toronto, from where those goods will be shipped to their final destinations around the globe.

    “We have always enjoyed a long-standing and strong bond with Atlantic Canada and the Nova Scotia community, and we are thrilled to introduce direct freighter capacity to the market. Atlantic Canada’s economy has experienced important growth in the last few years, with increased demand from North America, Europe, and beyond. Nova Scotia is a key element of our growth strategy and Halifax being one of our first Canadian markets with the freighters further emphasizes the importance we place on our partnerships in the community. We are pleased to increase our support to the robust and growing trade sector in the region,” said Jason Berry, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada.

    “Having stronger air links opens the door for more trade and investment in our province. It means we can build on the already strong relationship with our trading partners and create new ones,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This is an important step forward for many of our businesses who will benefit from this exciting growth of Air Canada’s freighter network.”

    “This exciting Air Canada Cargo expansion will increase capacity at Halifax Stanfield, providing Nova Scotia businesses and industries with more opportunities to ship their products efficiently by air,” said Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority. “We are thrilled with Air Canada’s continued investment in Halifax and look forward to their future growth to meet the needs of communities across the region.”

    The new service to Halifax complements Air Canada Cargo’s regular freighter service to Latin American cities.

    Atlantic Canada Schedule from Toronto

    • To Halifax: Five flights per week starting today

    European Schedule from Toronto Starting in May

    • To Frankfurt: Two flights per week
    • To Cologne: One flight per week
    • To Istanbul: One flight per week
    • To Madrid: Three flights per week

    About Air Canada

    Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking from the independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which in 2021 also named Air Canada as having the Best Airline Staff in North America, Best Airline Staff in Canada, Best Business Class Lounge in North America, as well as an Excellence award for its handling of COVID-19. Also in 2021, Air Canada was named Global Traveler’s Best Airline in North America for the third straight year. In January 2021, Air Canada received APEX’s Diamond Status Certification for the Air Canada CleanCare+ biosafety program for managing COVID-19, the only airline in Canada to attain the highest APEX ranking. Air Canada has also committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050.

    About Air Canada Cargo

    Air Canada Cargo is an award-winning provider of air cargo services. It is Canada’s largest air cargo provider as measured by cargo capacity, with a presence in over 50 countries and self-handled hubs in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, London, and Frankfurt. As the dedicated air freight division of Air Canada, Air Canada Cargo offers reliable air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s domestic and international passenger flights, cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300ER freighter aircraft, and trucking services. For more information, please visit: aircanadacargo.com 

  • Flair Airlines Revolutionizes Air Travel in Quebec, Starting Service as the Only Ultra Low-Cost Carrier in the Province

    EDMONTON, Alberta, July 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flair Airlines, Canada’s only independent ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC), continues its growth with the addition of service to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (IATA: YUL) in Quebec starting today. The ULCC is adding ultra-affordable, non-stop flights between Montreal and 4 Canadian cities: Vancouver, Abbotsford, Halifax and Toronto.

    “The citizens of Quebec have been denied access to affordable air travel and Flair is here to change that,” says Garth Lund, Chief Commercial Officer. “Travel is a necessity, not a luxury. Getting across Canada shouldn’t force a family or an individual into debt while massive corporations sit back and benefit from a monopolized market. Flair is a different kind of airline. We are here to disrupt the status quo and put the power back into the consumer’s hands. Our low fares make travel accessible and affordable for everyone.”

    Montreal is among several new destinations Flair is adding to its network as the airline grows to serve 20 Canadian cities. Fares are available for less than $50 one-way. With an ambitious goal to grow to 50 aircraft in 5 years, Flair is rapidly expanding as it brings ULCC service to Canadians.

    About Flair Airlines

    Flair Airlines is Canada’s only independent Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) and is on a mission to liberate the lives of Canadians by providing 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 20 cities across Canada. For more information, please visit www.flyflair.com

  • Fewer flights could lead to higher airfares and a delayed economic recovery

    From Halifax Today – link to story

    15 October 2020 | By: Meghan Groff

    Premier Stephen McNeil wants to see a national strategy for Canada’s air transportation industry a day ago

    032320 - airplane - flight - AdobeStock_162309703(stock photo|)

    Fewer WestJet flights will likely lead to more connections, far fewer options and higher airfares, according to an airport spokesperson.

    Yesterday, WestJet announced a significant reduction in the number of flights to both Halifax and St. John’s, along with the indefinite suspension of all routes heading to Moncton, Fredericton, Sydney and Charlottetown.

    In total, more than 100 flights a week to Atlantic Canada will be eliminated as of Nov. 2.

    WestJet will still have 14 weekly flights between Halifax and Toronto, 11 weekly flights between Halifax and St. John’s and 9 weekly flights between Halifax and Calgary.

    However, the airline won’t be providing service between Stanfield International and Sydney or Ottawa.

    “That’s certainly reducing choice and options that are available to our community members,” said Halifax International Airport Authority spokesperson Tiffany Chase. “We’ve already seen a significant amount of capacity for air travel cut from our airport.”

    Chase said it only has around 10 per cent of the passengers it had this time last year.

    “It’s taken years for us to build important connections, not only to domestic destinations, but also those in the U.S. and European markets,” she added. “Unfortunately all of that has unraveled in a matter of months.”

    “We know it will be very difficult, it could take years to get some of those services back, if ever.”

    WestJet’s president and CEO, Ed Sims, said the airline would normally serve over 2 million passengers a month, however since the start of the pandemic, it has only flown 1 million people total.

    In a statement posted to YouTube, he said more than 70 per cent of its fleet remains grounded.

    On Tuesday, Porter Airlines — which grounded flights back on March 21 — once again pushed back its temporary service suspension to Dec. 15. 

    Chase said Halifax’s airport essentially operates on a user-pay system and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to address the revenue gap that has been caused by COVID-19.

    Earlier this year, around 25 per cent of airport staff were laid off and only under one-third of businesses that were operating in the facility remain open.

    “Many businesses have had to close, have had to lay off employees,” said Chase. 

    “A number of the airlines have also announced cuts to jobs, in fact across Canada in the aviation sector, we’re currently looking at about a 50 per cent job loss, and that’s a pretty staggering statistic.”

    Atlantic Canadian premiers say urgent action from the federal government is needed to address cuts in air service.

    “This is a big blow to the region,” said Nova Scotia’s Premier Stephen McNeil. “We know that Air Canada also made the decision early on to make changes. WestJet is making those changes.

    “This in many ways is how we move around this region, and at the same time, it’s how we go out into the world.”

    He said a vibrant air service will be vital to our province’s recovery following the pandemic, as it’s essential for export opportunities, business travel and our tourism sector.

    “We’ve all lived through those days when for the cost of a flight from Halifax to Sydney, Nova Scotia, we could travel halfway around the world on a cheaper air ticket,” he said at a Wednesday briefing. “We saw changes when we had that competitive environment.”

    McNeil wants to see a national strategy for Canada’s air transportation industry.

    “This is a national issue and it’s our view that we need to find a solution to this, because otherwise our climb out of the economic impact of COVID will be much greater than other parts of Canada,” our premier said.

    “We need this service.”

  • Temperature screening to be deployed at Halifax airport

    From CBC News – link to story

    Departures area at Halifax Stanfield has been widened to allow for the new stations

    CBC News · Posted: Sep 17, 2020

    Signs for physical distancing are shown in the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Starting Sept. 23, the temperature of travellers will be taken before they board a flight. (Blair Sanderson/CBC)

    Travellers flying out of Halifax will soon have their temperature taken before lift off to scan for one of the symptoms of COVID-19.

    Next Wednesday, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is rolling out temperature screening stations in the departure sections of 11 airports, including Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

    All passengers who have a fever (38 C and above), and don’t have a medical certificate to explain a condition that would result in an elevated temperature, will not be allowed to continue their travel and will be asked to rebook after 14 days.

    Leah Batstone, spokesperson for the Halifax International Airport Authority, said they’re happy to have another feature to help ease people’s fears and concerns about air travel.

    A passenger has his temperature checked as a precaution against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to Vladivostok, Russia, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, in March. (Jon Chol Jin/The Associated Press)

    “The airport isn’t that busy so keeping physical distance is pretty easy,” Batstone said. “As long as everyone is washing their hands and wearing their mask, we’re confident that people will be able to travel and feel comfortable.”

    Batstone said CATSA has increased the space around the departure area where people approach security to allow for the new screening process.

    Travellers will pause at the station, have their temperature taken in a contactless way, and can continue from there if they are deemed well enough to travel.

    Besides Halifax, the other airports bringing in temperature screening this September are St. John’s, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto – Billy Bishop, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Kelowna, B.C., and Victoria.

    Leah Batstone is spokesperson for the Halifax International Airport Authority. (Blair Sanderson/CBC)

    The requirement has already been in place in Canada’s four major airports in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto-Pearson and Montreal since July 30.

    In Vancouver, passengers will also soon be able to get a COVID-19 test before boarding some domestic flights.

    Travel numbers remain low in Halifax

    Batstone said the Halifax airport has been much quieter over the past few months, although business has started to pick up slightly.

    In June, travel was down 97 or 95 per cent compared to last year, in July it was down 90 per cent, and 88 per cent in August.

    Although there’s been an incremental increase, Batstone said they don’t expect to see much more activity than August levels until the Atlantic bubble opens up to the rest of Canada.

    “It’s quite empty inside and it is very different. But, you know, we’re still here for people if they have somewhere to go,” Batstone said.

    With files from Blair Sanderson