France - air traffic controllers strike

Airlines have slashed flights in France as a strike by air traffic controllers fearful of a plan to unify European skies went into full force. The strike, which began last night, is expected to last until around midnight EDT Thursday. The Civil Aviation Authority has asked airlines to cancel one out of two flights at Orly airport, south of the French capital, and one out of five flights at Charles de Gaulle, the main Paris airport. National carrier Air France has said its long-haul flights aren't affected. Air traffic controllers are concerned that the Single European Sky concept meant to deal with projected traffic increases could cost jobs.

Deluce sues Air Canada over pass privileges

When it comes to airline people, you can mess with a lot of stuff, but pass privileges are sacrosanct. Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines, is personally suing Air Canada for breach of contract. Deluce is seeking up to $5 million in damages related to a 23-year old agreement for travel pass privileges. In 1986, the Deluce family sold Air Ontario and Austin Airways to Air Canada. Under terms of the sale, Air Canada agreed to provide Deluce and his spouse with a free travel pass for life. Well, life apparently didn’t actually mean “life” as in “as long as you are alive and flying.”  Air Canada performed its obligations under this contract for approximately 23 years, and then, in the fall of 2009, it unilaterally, and without warning, stopped honoring the arrangements. “I perceive this as being just another in a series of tactical moves by Air Canada to distract and influence Porter,” said Deluce.   “Nevertheless, we are committed to growing Porter, continuing to successfully attract market share, and lowering prices for consumers." The claim will be considered by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Hertz price increase

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. announced that it has increased prices for both Hertz and Advantage car rental brands for retail rentals beginning July 15, 2010, at all U.S. airport locations. Specifically, retail car rental rates have been increased by $5 a day and $30 a week. The company’s negotiated contract rates are not affected by this announcement

Air Canada does well

Air Canada announced stronger-than-expected first-quarter results and said it would refinance its $900 million debt. It said that its revenue per available seat mile increased by 6.6 percent over the second quarter of 2009, with both yield and load factor increases contributing to the overall improvement. The company estimates that the stronger Canadian dollar in the second quarter of 2010 as compared to the second quarter of 2009 reduced the RASM improvement by approximately 4.7 percentage points, the result of approximately 30 percent of second quarter 2010 passenger revenues being foreign currency denominated

NEXUS Priority Lane

NEXUS members may use a new “NEXUS Priority Lane” for pre-boarding security screening for domestic and some international flights (excluding flights to the United States) at the Macdonald-Cartier International Airport located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and at Terminal 1 at the Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and for domestic flights at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Montréal.   The priority security screening lane is part of a pilot project implemented by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) in partnership with Transport Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).    To benefit from this service, present your valid NEXUS membership card and boarding pass to the security screening officer at the designated screening checkpoint. If you do not have your membership card with you, you must use the regular screening lanes. Lanes will be clearly identified. All passengers, including those accessing the NEXUS Priority Lane, are required to comply with CATSA screening requirements. In the future, additional airports and trusted traveller programs will be considered for the priority lanes. For further information on this pilot and for information on any changes to the pilot, please visit the CBSA and CATSA web sites through the links at the end of this message. CATSA would like to remind you to Pack Smart when travelling.  To speed up your pre-board security screening process, please ensure your carry-on baggage has easy access to remove your laptop computer, video and film cameras. In addition, please place your liquids, aerosols and gels in clear, 1-litre resealable bags. For more tips on speeding up the screening process, or general travel advice and information, please visit the CATSA Web site.     For updates to the NEXUS program, please regularly visit the NEXUS Web site.