/News

RBC and WestJet deliver enhanced flexibility and points earning potential with refreshed suite of co-branded Mastercard personal credit cards

Source: WestJet Starting November 5, 2025, cardholders will be able to earn WestJet points faster on everyday purchases, while enjoying expanded travel benefits and insurance options on both credit cards. The enhancements follow earlier announcements of the redesigned WestJet Rewards program and launch of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business. Today's announcement is a continuation of the companies' collective efforts to reward Canadians and make travel more affordable. "Our long-standing partnership with WestJet is focused on giving Canadians more value, and flexibility when they travel," said Athena Varmazis, Senior Vice President, Consumer & Commercial Credit Cards, RBC. "With these enhancements, we're strengthening our leading WestJet RBC Mastercard travel card portfolio, while helping our cardholders get rewarded faster and enjoy [...]

2025-09-11T17:15:03+03:00September 11th, 2025|AIRLINES, News|

Transportation Producer Price Index – August 2025

Source: DOT BTS The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released the change in the costs faced by producers purchasing transportation services and industries producing them, from August 2024 to August 2025, as measured by the Producer Price Index (PPI). The PPI measures inflation from the perspective of costs to industry or producers of products. Transportation equipment PPI indicate the changes in transportation equipment prices faced by transportation providers, and any increase, increases providers costs. The PPI shows that prices increased for freight transportation and equipment 1.9% in August 2025 from August 2024. Increases in transportation services PPI indicate increases in production costs faced by industries purchasing the services. From August 2024 to August 2025, the transportation services PPI changed, by mode: Air: +3.8% [...]

2025-09-11T18:44:05+03:00September 11th, 2025|News, ORGANISATIONS|

Air Canada Further Strengthens Toronto Hub with Expanded International Network Including new Flights to Four Latin American Countries

Source: Air Canada New flights to Rio, Lima, Cartagena, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadalajara, Puerto Escondido launching Winter 2025 Shanghai and Budapest flights launching in Summer 2026 More flights to Prague in Summer 2026 New Boeing 787-10 fleet on order to be initially based in Toronto to support future growth With new, exciting routes already set to begin operating to South America and Mexico this winter from Air Canada's global hub at Toronto Pearson, the airline today announced further expansion at its largest hub. Beginning Summer 2026, Air Canada will be returning non-stop to Shanghai and to Budapest, and will also be adding flights to Prague. These new services further strengthen Toronto Pearson as Air Canada's largest hub linking to over 150 destinations [...]

2025-09-10T20:36:55+03:00September 10th, 2025|AIRLINES, News|

Airport leaders unite in China to reimagine customer experience

Source: ACI World The premier global event dedicated to airport experience begins; ASQ Awards Ceremony to spotlight best airports Global airport and aviation leaders convene in Guangzhou, China, for the opening of the ACI World Airport Experience Summit 2025, the premier global event dedicated to airport experience. Held from 8–11 September and hosted by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, this year's Summit is themed "Reimagining a People Experience." The event highlights how airports are embracing AI, biometrics, immersive technologies, and human-centered design to deliver seamless, inclusive, and memorable journeys, while fostering engaging workplaces for employees. As the world's fastest-growing aviation market, China provides a powerful setting. The total number of passengers at Chinese airports is projected to exceed 3 billion by [...]

2025-09-10T20:41:08+03:00September 10th, 2025|News, ORGANISATIONS|

The July 2025 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) Rose 0.8% from the Previous Month and Fell 0.1% from the Same Month Last Year

Source: US DOT The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), rose 0.8% in July from June, rising after two months of decline, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). From July 2024 to July 2025 the index fell 0.1%. The freight TSI measures the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry. The Passenger TSI rose 0.3% in July from June, rising after a one-month decline. From July 2024 to July 2025 the index rose 2.4%. The passenger TSI measures passenger transportation volumes on local transit, intercity rail, and air transportation. The Combined Freight and Passenger Index rose by 0.6% in July from June and rose by 0.8% from July 2024 to July 2025. Analysis: The [...]

2025-09-10T20:29:23+03:00September 10th, 2025|News, ORGANISATIONS|

U.S. Cargo and Passenger Airlines Gained 722 Jobs in July 2025

Source: US DOT Note: In June 2024, FedEx Ground and FedEx Services merged with FedEx Express to form Federal Express Corporation. Consequently, carrier FX experienced a significant increase in employee count, thereby increasing the total number of employees within the industry. May 2024 Federal Express numbers are 233,739, while Federal Express Corporation June 2024 numbers are 432,127. U.S. Airlines: Total Number of Employees (both Full-Time and Part-Time) U.S. airline industry (passenger and cargo airlines combined) employment increased to 1,022,215 workers in July 2025, 722 (0.07%) more workers than in June 2025 (1,021,493). U.S. scheduled-service passenger airlines employed 551,243 workers in July 2025, or 54% of the industry-wide total. Passenger airlines lost 44 employees in July 2025. United Air Lines led scheduled [...]

2025-09-10T20:26:37+03:00September 10th, 2025|News, ORGANISATIONS|

WestJet and CAE sign contract to bring world-class aviation professional training facility to Calgary

Source: WestJet Ongoing education and talent development to meet future demand of expanding aviation hub CALGARY, AB, Sept. 10, 2025 /CNW/ - WestJet and CAE announced today the signing of a 15-year training agreement under which CAE will establish the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence (the Centre) for Aviation and Aerospace—a cutting-edge aviation training facility in Calgary, subject to customary contingencies. Slated to open in 2028, the 126,000 square foot facility will house eight full-flight simulators, with capacity for expansion, alongside cabin trainers and state of the art digital learning tools. WestJet will be the Centre's primary commercial airline customer and be the first to schedule initial and recurrent training for pilots and cabin crew on Boeing 737MAX, 737NG, 787 [...]

2025-09-10T20:23:23+03:00September 10th, 2025|AIRLINES, News|

Airports as Drivers of Business, Resilience, and Air Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Source: ACI-LAC The ACI-LAC Annual Conference 2025, to be held in Trinidad and Tobago, will explore new aviation development models across the region. Airports Council International for Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) will host its Annual Assembly, Conference, and Exhibition from October 6–7, the region’s most important airport industry event. Sponsored by the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the gathering will bring together leading authorities, Latin American executives, and aviation experts to discuss key developments in the airport sector. Under the theme “Airports Define Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean,” speakers will share insights on airport concession models, airport certification, climate challenges, air cargo, ground handling services, and the state of air connectivity in the region and [...]

2025-09-09T20:37:43+03:00September 9th, 2025|News, ORGANISATIONS|

Passenger traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) grew 4.4% in July

Source: ALTA In July 2025, air passenger traffic across the region reached 42.8 million, a year-on-year increase of 4.4% compared with July 2024, equivalent to 1.8 million additional travelers. In July 2025, air passenger traffic across the region reached 42.8 million, a year-on-year increase of 4.4% compared with July 2024, equivalent to 1.8 million additional travelers. This pace of growth outperformed June, adding one percentage point, and was driven primarily by LAC-based carriers, which for the second consecutive month led global expansion with a 7.2% increase[i]. More than 60% of July’s net passenger growth came from intra-regional markets, while traffic between LAC and the United States posted its strongest performance of the year, growing 3.6% year-on-year. Argentina, Panama, Peru, and [...]

2025-09-09T20:42:18+03:00September 9th, 2025|News, ORGANISATIONS|

X(LR)-cellent News: Air Canada Unveils Palma de Mallorca as its First New Route for Airbus A321XLR Starting Summer 2026

Source: Air Canada       A321XLR fleet delivery begins first quarter of 2026 Aircraft to also operate Montréal -Toulouse and Montréal - Edinburgh in 2026 Air Canada announced today Montréal to Palma de Mallorca as its first brand new route to be operated by its Airbus A321 extra-long range (XLR) aircraft. Delivery of the XLR fleet begins in the first quarter of 2026, and in June 2026, Air Canada will inaugurate service from Montréal to the Spanish island in the western Mediterranean onboard this new aircraft. Seats are available for sale now at aircanada.com and through Travel Agents. "The wait is nearly over as the imminent arrival of the game-changing Airbus A321XLR marks the next phase of international growth at [...]

2025-09-09T20:47:04+03:00September 9th, 2025|AIRLINES, News|