The inaugural of Air Canada´s nonstop daily service from Montreal marks its extensive eastern Canada network, with the Mexican capital. “The introduction of daily nonstop Air Canada flights between Montreal and Mexico City is great news for Montreal residents and consumers in eastern Canada seeking value and convenience in air travel to Mexico, whether for business, vacation or visiting friends and family,” said Ben Smith, vice president of Network Planning.

Former Air Jamaica executive Allen Chastanet has added his support to Air Jamaica´s new nonstop flights to St. Lucia, saying that this service is critical to the success of tourism on the island. “The new flights which started in February couldn´t have come at a more opportune time. New York is the largest market to the Caribbean, so having nonstop flights out of this market is imperative,” said Mr. Chastanet, who is now a Caribbean hotelier and was recently in New York for Caribbean Week activities.

The main union representing Iberia Airlines (IB) pilots called a strike for July 10-16 that will affect flights throughout Spain. Iberia pilots are protesting the airline´s plans to eliminate unprofitable routes operating out of Barcelona´s El Prat Airport (BCN) and Iberia´s investment in a new low-cost airline –Catair- based at BCN.

Alaska Airlines applied to the U.S. Deptartment of Transportation last month for authority to fly nonstop between Seattle and Cancun, Mexico, and between Portland, Oregon, and Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. If approved, the seasonal flights would operate this year from the end of October to the end of April.

Caribbean Star airlines will launch daily flights from Trinidad´s main airport to Antigua and Guyana in July, officials said Wednesday. The Antigua-based company will hire 34 new staffers, including 10 pilots. It will also establish a new crew base and maintenance facility at Piarco Airport in Trinidad´s capital, Port-of-Spain, Caribbean Star said in a statement. Flights will be on a 50-seat DeHavilland airliners.

Spirit, the leading low-fare carrier to the Caribbean, announces an expansion to its Fort Lauderdale hub operation. Effective December 14, Spirit will enhance its winter schedule to key destinations further reinforcing its position in Fort Lauderdale. Spirit will add flights to Jamaica, Santo Domingo, Dominican, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and New York City.