The addition of the Boeing 747 is the first stage of a significant fleet and network expansion which has included the acquisition of a Boeing 767-200 for use on the Miami route as well as ongoing discussions with Airbus and Boeing for new short-haul equipment.
Air Canada, a founding member of Star Alliance, and TAM, Brazil’s largest airline, announced today they have concluded an agreement to expand their networks on a codeshare basis, offering customers more choice of destinations and convenient transfers to major cities throughout Brazil and Canada.
Many airlines are cutting back service to the Caribbean this fall and winter, but New Yorkers bound for the islands will still enjoy plenty of options. They can fly nonstop to 26 Caribbean destinations from the New York area’s three major airports, about the same as last year. However, because airlines are retrenching in the face of high fuel costs and a faltering economy, they’ll have fewer flights to choose from.
Continental Airlines reported a September consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 76.5 percent, 2.5 points below the September 2007 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 77.4 percent, 1.8 points below the September 2007 mainline load factor.
Porter Airlines on Nov. 12 will begin daily turboprop service between Chicago Midway and Toronto City Centre airports. Chicago will be Porter’s second U.S. destination. It already flies its 70-seat Bombardier Q400s between Toronto City Centre and Newark.
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., has announced plans to expand its Caribbean services with new flights to Cancun, Mexico, effective Feb. 25, 2009.