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Tag: Comox YQQ

  • Details of Financial Support to Air Canada

    From: Department of Finance Canada | 12 April 2021

    Backgrounder

    The government’s financial support to Air Canada is being provided under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF). The Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC) has committed to provide $4 billion in repayable loans and an equity investment in Air Canada of $500 million in newly-issued Class B Voting Shares at a 15 per cent discount to their recent trading price. CEEFC will also receive warrants on Air Canada stock in an amount equal to 10 per cent of the loan commitments (CEEFC’s news release contains detailed information regarding the warrants).

    As a condition of its agreement with CEEFC, Air Canada has made a number of commitments as outlined below.

    Refunds for Canadians

    The agreement with Air Canada ensures that customers who had their flights cancelled, or took action to cancel a flight because of the pandemic, are not financially disadvantaged. Under the terms of the financing agreement, Air Canada has committed to offer refunds to any passenger who wants a refund for certain pandemic-related cancelations by the carrier that CEEFC will finance. Air Canada has committed to providing customers with their refunds as soon as possible – beginning April 30, 2021 at the latest. CEEFC will provide additional loan financing of up to $1.4 billion for Air Canada to provide these refunds. Travel agents may assist in the processing of refunds for tickets the travel agents sold but will not be required to refund their commission to Air Canada.

    Protecting Jobs

    As a condition of the agreement with CEEFC, Air Canada has committed to maintain jobs at current levels, to respect collective bargaining agreements, and protect workers’ pensions. Air Canada currently has 14,859 active Canadian employees.

    As required more generally under LEEFF, Air Canada has also agreed to restrictions on dividends, buying back shares, and executive compensation. The company will also provide climate-related financial disclosures, including how its future operations will support environmental sustainability and national climate goals.

    Restarting Vital Domestic Air Services

    The terms of the financial support will ensure that Canadians and communities retain air connections to the rest of Canada, through the restart of service at airports temporarily suspended by Air Canada. For seven airports where Air Canada had permanently canceled service, the airline will seek interline agreements with other carriers with a view to ensure those Canadians continue to have convenient access to their preferred airports and the flights they need.

    Service will resume by no later than June 1, 2021, at the following suspended airports based on public health advice:

    • Bathurst
    • Comox
    • Fredericton
    • Gander
    • Goose Bay
    • Kamloops
    • North Bay
    • Penticton
    • Prince Rupert
    • Saint John
    • Sandspit
    • Sydney
    • Yellowknife

    Supporting Jobs in Canada’s Aerospace Industry

    The aerospace industry supported 235,000 Canadian jobs and contributed over $28 billion in gross domestic product to the Canadian economy in 2019.

    This financing agreement will allow Air Canada to continue to be a vital customer of the Canadian aerospace industry by completing its planned purchase of aircraft as set out in its business plan, which includes aircraft built in Canada, such as the Airbus A220. Aerospace is one of the most innovative and export-driven industries in Canada. The negative impact of the pandemic on the bottom line of airlines has put the relationship between airlines and the aerospace industry at risk, threatening job security in the sector. Ensuring that Air Canada maintains its status as a key customer of Canada’s aerospace industry is important to ensuring the long term success of the sector and the thousands of jobs it supports.

  • Snowbirds CT114 Tutor Investigation Report Confirmed the Ingestion of a Bird

    Royal Canadian Air Force Investigation Report | January 29, 2021 | Updated: March 23, 2021

    Location: 1 NM east of Kamloops airport, BC
    Date: 17 May 2020
    Status: Investigation Completed

    The accident involved a CT114 Tutor aircraft from the Canadian Armed Forces Air Demonstration Team (Snowbirds) enroute to Comox, BC to reposition in support of Op INSPIRATION. The aircraft was number two of a formation of two Tutor aircraft.

    Following the take-off, a loud, impact-like sound was heard by both occupants and the aircraft then experienced a loss of thrust. The pilot initiated a climb straight ahead and then elected to carry out a left-hand turn back towards the airport. The manoeuvre resulted in an aerodynamic stall halfway through the turn before the pilot gave the order to abandon the aircraft. Both occupants subsequently ejected and the aircraft was destroyed upon impact in a residential area. The passenger was fatally injured and the pilot received serious injuries. Evidence gathered during the investigation revealed that both occupants’ ejection sequences were outside of the ejection envelope.

    Crash site. Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    DNA evidence collected from the engine’s internal components confirmed the ingestion of a bird as witnessed from video evidence; however, the damage it caused was insufficient to cause a catastrophic failure. Rather, it resulted in a compressor stall that was never cleared.

    The investigation recommends a directive be published which outlines the aircrew’s priority where an emergency during the take-off or landing phase occurs and has the potential to result in an ejection near or over a populated area.

    Crash site. Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The investigation also recommends further training on engine-related emergencies be practiced in the takeoff/low-level environment. It is also recommended that the practice of storing items between the ejection seat and the airframe wall cease immediately.

    Finally, further research is recommended into the potential options that would stabilize the CT114 ejection seat from any tendency to pitch, roll or yaw immediately following its departure from the ejection seat rails.

  • WestJet leads domestic recovery with the addition of 11 new routes

    Airline’s investments in Western Canada support travel and tourism in anticipation of summer demand 

    CALGARY, AB, March 26, 2021 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced 11 new domestic routes across Western Canada. The routes will offer new nonstop service for 15 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The enhancements follow an announcement made earlier in the week to return previously suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City.  

    A message from WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims, on the airline’s commitment to Canada’s safe restart 

    “As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada’s economic recovery,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “Stimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit; with one in every 10 Canadian jobs tied to travel and tourism, the ripple effect benefits our whole country.”  

    The new routes include service between Toronto (YYZ) and Comox (YQQ); between Ottawa (YOW) and Victoria (YYJ) and eight new routes connecting the prairie provinces to British Columbia tourism destinations, such as Regina (YQR) to Kelowna (YLW). Full schedule details and start dates are outlined below. 

    “We are at an inflection point; one that is buoyed by the rollout of vaccines, months of learning how to take appropriate precautions, and a view to Canada’s beautiful summer months that allows us to spend more time outdoors,” continued Sims. “If Canadians were to shift two-thirds of their planned international-leisure travel spend towards domestic tourism, it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year, all while seeing what Canada has to offer.” 

    New routes: 

    Route Frequency Effective from 
    Toronto – Fort McMurray 2x weekly (Wed, Sun) June 6, 2021 
    Kelowna – Saskatoon 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 
    Kelowna – Regina 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 
    Saskatoon – Victoria 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 
    Winnipeg – Victoria 3x weekly (Thu, Sat, Sun) June 24, 2021 
    Edmonton – Kamloops 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 
    Edmonton – Penticton 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 
    Edmonton – Nanaimo 2x weekly (Fri, Sun) June 25, 2021 
    Prince George – Abbotsford 2x weekly (Fri, Sun) June 25, 2021 
    Ottawa – Victoria 1x weekly (Sat) June 26, 2021 
    Toronto – Comox 1x weekly (Sat) June 26, 2021 

    About WestJet 

    In 25 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 23 countries, pre-pandemic.

    Since the start of the pandemic the WestJet Group of Companies has built a layered framework of safety measures to ensure Canadians can continue to travel safely and responsibly through the airline’s Safety Above All hygiene program. During this time, WestJet has maintained its status as one of the top-10 on-time airlines in North America as named by Cirium.

    For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com. 

  • Comox Valley Airport examining options to tap into B.C.’s $16.5 million airport restart funding

    From Comox Valley Record – link to source story

    https://3rvxro1qhiaouxf3h3et9bah-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/24478518_web1_190521-CVR-AE-YQQ.jpg
    The Comox Valley Airport is reviewing if they are eligible and could qualify for recently-announced COVID-19 provincial funding for transportation services around the province. Black Press file photo

    Province announced $27 million to help maintain or restart some transportation services

    ERIN HALUSCHAK, Comox Valley Record | Mar. 10, 2021

    A recent $27 million announcement by the provincial government to help maintain or restart some transportation services is getting a closer look by the Comox Valley Airport.

    On March 9, the government announced that bus services and airports can begin applying to the fund – as part of the province’s COVID-19 business recovery fund – to keep them going until travel restrictions are eased later this year.

    Transportation Minister Rob Flemming said bus services have a fund of $10.7 million available while regional airports can apply to a $16.5 million fund to cover operating costs.

    “We will be reviewing the application, at this stage is just an expression of interest, which we will complete to start the process, but given the number of airports this fund will be open to, it remains to be seen if YQQ will qualify, and if so, to what extent,” explained Erin Neely, market development manager of the Comox Valley Airport.

    She added they are grateful to the provincial government for the announcement of funds and support to the vital transportation sector.

    Heather Bell, chair of the B.C. Aviation Council, said regional airports generate almost all of their revenue by user fees, and have been among the hardest-hit industries due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. But they still need to meet regulations and maintain their runways, fire safety response and terminal services for medical and other essential travel.

    Bell said airports need to be ready for this summer when travel restrictions are likely to be eased, because when travel is allowed, “it’s not going to come back as a flood, it’s going to come back as a tsunami.”

    Neely added like most Canadian airports, YQQ is waiting on the federal government to provide a plan to safely restart air travel – when it’s safe to do so – along with a number of other government-led actions to support the industry, their airline partners and the communities they serve.

    In January, WestJet Airlines announced a flight reduction across their network – approximately 30 per cent of its previously planned March capacity from the schedule, a more than 80 per cent reduction year over year.

    While there are fewer flights in and out of YQQ, Neely noted earlier this year the airport remains fully operational to support essential travel and they are ready to increase capacity when conditions and government regulations allow.

    -With files from Tom Fletcher

  • Menzies Aviation supports WestJet at five new stations in British Columbia

    03/02/21 – Menzies Aviation is further developing its relationship with Canada’s WestJet with the announcement of a new contract to offer guest services at five new stations in the Western province of British Columbia.

    https://menziesaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Westjet.jpg

    Menzies already works with WestJet at Toronto, one of WestJet’s largest hubs, and other airports around the world and is now supporting their business and operations at Victoria (YYJ), Nanaimo (YCD), Comox (YQQ), Abbotsford (YXX), and Kamloops (YKA).

    James Wong, Vice-President, Sales – Canada & Caribbean said: “We are currently servicing WestJet at one of their largest hubs in Toronto and various airports globally. The addition of the Canadian western stations is a testament to the ongoing trust in delivering an exceptional experience to WestJet guests. We  look forward to further developing our global relationship and the opportunity to offer our services to the aviation community in Western Canada..”

    Robert Antoniuk, WestJet Vice-President, Airports said: “For more than 15 years Menzies has partnered with us to provide safe and caring service to millions of WestJet guests. Our long-standing relationship alongside Menzies’ alignment with our service culture are two key reasons we selected them as our service partner for these Western Canadian airports. We look forward to a continued healthy partnership.”