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MARSDAILY Rover drops off Mars Helicopter Ingenuity for first flight on Mars by Bob Balaram | Chief Engineer Ingenuity Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 04, 2021 NASA's Ingenuity helicopter can be seen here with all four of its legs deployed and dropped from the belly of the Perseverance rover on March 30, 2021. Within a few days, Ingenuity will be on the surface of Mars. Until now it has been connected to the Perseverance rover, which allowed Ingenuity to charge its battery as well as use a thermostat-controlled heater powered by the rover. This heater keeps the interior at about 45 degrees F through the bitter cold of the Martian night, where temperatures can drop to as low as -130F. That comfortably protects key components such as the battery and some of the sensitive electronics from harm at very cold temperatures. Before Ingenuity drops the last few inches onto its airfield, Perseverance will charge up the little helicopter's battery to a 100 percent state-of-charge. That's a good thing, because Ingenuity has to run its own heater from its own battery after the drop. No more free power from the rover! But there is another free source of energy on Mars: the Sun! The Sun's energy is weaker at Mars-a little over half of what we would find here on Earth on a bright, sunny day. But it's enough for Ingenuity's high-tech solar panel to charge the battery. Of course, this means that the rover will drive away from Ingenuity after the drop so that we uncover the solar panel. This will occur as soon as possible after the drop. Ingenuity can't afford to keep the temperature of its interior at a "balmy" 45F -that takes too much precious energy from the battery. Instead, when it wakes up on the surface after being dropped, it sets its thermostat to about 5F or lower. Then it's off to survive the first night on its own! The Ingenuity team will be anxiously waiting to hear from the helicopter the next day. Did it make it through the night? Is the solar panel working as expected? The team will check the temperatures and the battery recharge performance over the next couple of days. If it all looks good, then it's onto the next steps: unlocking the rotor blades, and testing out all the motors and sensors.

Cargojet Expands Relationship with Amazon 1 April 2021Canadian Aviation News MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 1, 2021 /CNW/ – Cargojet Inc. (“Cargojet”) (TSX: CJT) announced today that it has entered into a new Air Transportation Services Agreement with Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services, ULC (“Amazon”). Under the agreement, Cargojet will expand upon its existing commercial relationship with Amazon. As part of this arrangement, Cargojet will operate two Amazon-owned B767-300BDSF aircraft as part of the Amazon Air network on a CMI basis within Canada starting mid-2021. Cargojet expects the agreement to generate additional revenue growth to Cargojet’s earnings and cash flows over time. The agreement has a four-year term with three successive two-year renewal options. “We are very excited to expand our long-term relationship of providing a portfolio of services which support the rapid growth of e-Commerce in Canada. This new four-year Agreement with renewal options is a testament to our relentless focus on exceeding customer expectations,” said Dr. Ajay Virmani, President and CEO Cargojet. Cargojet is Canada’s leading provider of time sensitive premium air cargo services to all major cities across North America, providing Dedicated ACMI and International Charter services and carries over 25,000,000 pounds of cargo weekly. Cargojet operates its network with its own fleet of 27 Cargo aircraft. CargojetCargojet

Swoop Expands Summer Schedule and Brings New Routes and More Ultra-Low Fares to British Columbia 31 March 2021Canadian Aviation News Airline introduces Victoria as new destination and adds more routes to Kelowna for peak summer travel VICTORIA, BC, March 31, 2021 /CNW/ – Today, Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost airline, announced an expansion to its summer schedule, bringing new routes and more ultra-low fares to British Columbia. The airline’s expanded summer operations will bring new service to Victoria and celebrates the return and addition of new routes from Kelowna. “Our summer schedule expansion is in response to strong advance sales and in anticipation of demand from Canada’s most price-conscious travellers as they look towards the accelerated pace of vaccine rollouts across the country,” said Charles Duncan, President of Swoop. “We are thrilled to be offering Canadians even more opportunities to connect with British Columbia’s vibrant West Coast and Okanagan region this summer.” The airline, which had previously postponed planned operations to Victoria in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now see an increase of flights and routes in three cities within British Columbia, ensuring that Canadians across the province have access to domestic air travel at an affordable price tag. Today’s announcement is the first of several to come for the airline as they intend to bring even more ultra-low-fares coast-to-coast. Swoop’s new service to Victoria will include flights from Toronto, ON and Edmonton, AB. In addition, beginning June 20, 2021, service to Kelowna will now be available from Hamilton, ON and once again from Winnipeg, MB. Full details of Swoop’s expanded service in British Columbia can be found below. Planned Network Service: New and Returning Routes Route Frequency Planned Start Date Toronto – Victoria Up to 6x weekly May 20, 2021 Edmonton – Victoria Up to 7x weekly May 20, 2021 Hamilton – Kelowna Up to 6x weekly June 20, 2021 Winnipeg – Kelowna Up to 3x weekly June 20, 2021 Additional BC Network Service Route Frequency Abbotsford – Edmonton Up to 21x weekly Abbotsford – Hamilton Up to 7x weekly Abbotsford – Toronto Up to 7x weekly Abbotsford – Winnipeg Up to 7x weekly Kelowna – Toronto Up to 7x weekly “As we continue to plan for recovery, our focus remains on ensuring the safe reopening of air travel within Canada,” continued Duncan. “When the time comes for a safe resumption of travel, it will be critical to ensure access to affordable travel exists within our borders and Swoop is strategically positioned to meet that need in British Columbia and across the country.” Additional Quotes “As the economy begins to reopen, we are pleased that Swoop recognizes Victoria as a destination that travellers will look forward to returning to or discovering the beauty and culture that Victoria and Vancouver Island has to offer for the first time.” Said Geoff Dickson, Victoria Airport Authority President and CEO. “Swoop’s commitment to Greater Victoria is welcome news – both as we recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond” said Paul Nursey, CEO – Destination Greater Victoria. “It goes without saying we are located on an island. Reliable transportation to and from the destination is vital to the success of our visitor economy. There are other benefits to a low-cost carrier like Swoop entering market as well. It means Greater Victoria becomes an option for visitors that might not have considered air travel without ultra-low cost carrier options. Increased competition amongst transportation providers means consumers have more choice for how they experience Greater Victoria.” “We are proud to welcome Hamilton and Winnipeg non-stop to YLW this summer,” said Sam Samaddar, Airport Director. “Swoop’s additional destinations will allow Canadians more direct options to the Okanagan this summer season.” “Safe, reliable air service with direct, non-stop flights is essential to the recovery of the tourism industry and important contributor to our local and national economy. While we wait for interprovincial travel restrictions to lift, we hope Swoop customers from Hamilton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and surrounding areas will begin to plan their future trip to Kelowna and the Okanagan. We have incredible experiences for leisure and business visitors waiting to be enjoyed across all four seasons, and we’re looking forward to welcoming you here, soon.” Lisanne Ballantyne, President & CEO, Tourism Kelowna To learn more about Swoop’s visit  FlySwoop.com  or connect with Swoop on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. About Swoop  

cargo.one to welcome Air Canada Cargo as its first North American carrier

cargo.one to welcome Air Canada Cargo as its first North American carrier 30 March 2021Canadian Aviation News cargo.one to welcome Air Canada on its leading ebooking platform and to deliver on its global expansion strategy, funded by its December 2020 Series-B investment round. Berlin, March 30, 2021 – cargo.one has entered into a letter of intent with Air Canada, through its cargo division Air Canada Cargo, to offer its capacity on cargo.one’s leading air cargo booking platform. Upon conclusion of a definitive agreement, freight forwarders will soon have access to a first-class booking experience with real-time capacity and quotes. The airline is poised to become the first North American airline on the cargo.one ebooking platform. “We are delighted to double down on our global expansion strategy and look forward to welcoming Air Canada Cargo on board as a first mover in the North American region. Air Canada Cargo’s constant drive for innovation and technology to offer customers the best possible service is very much in line with cargo.one’s values and strategy,” stated Moritz Claussen, Co-Founder and Managing Director of cargo.one. “Given the current capacity constraints out of Europe to North America, cargo.one’s growing user base will now have additional real-time access to much sought-after space at the click of a button.“ Jason Berry, Vice President Cargo at Air Canada, said: “An association with cargo.one will enable us to deliver on our customer promise of providing easy and reliable booking access to our growing capacities and help us to further develop our digital distribution capabilities. A concluded definitive agreement will support Air Canada Cargo’s rapid cargo network expansion, increase its day-to-day efficiency, while at the same time offering customers an outstanding service quality and seamless online access to attractive connections to and from Europe, Latin America, the US and Asia-Pacific.” cargo.one raised more than $60 million in two funding rounds last year to support its rapid expansion, with one key focus on establishing a North American presence. It recently appointed Chad Tibor as Vice President and General Manager Airlines for the Americas, to shape its supplier growth strategy on the American continents. Chad Tibor commented: “We look forward to supporting Air Canada Cargo’s growth as it adds more cargo flights and takes delivery of the first two of its freighters later this year. We see the Americas as key markets for cargo.one and will continue to invest in long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships with carriers here, with Air Canada as a blueprint.” cargo.one and Air Canada Cargo have kicked off their integration phase. Subject to the conclusion of a definitive agreement which is planned to be finalized by April 30, Europe to North America flights are expected to go live in the second quarter of 2021. ABOUT AIR CANADA CARGO

Flair Airlines Brings Low Fares to Montreal with first ever ULCC domestic flights 30 March 2021Canadian Aviation News The growing ULCC will serve 19 cities by August, liberating the lives of Canadians with affordable travel EDMONTON, Alberta, March 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flair Airlines, Canada’s only independent ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC), is expanding service to include Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (IATA code: YUL) starting July 1, 2021, with direct flights to Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Abbotsford. The addition of Flair’s service to Montreal marks an incredible milestone for the airline as it brings the first domestic ULCC service to the region. Flair’s network continues to grow within Canada as new aircraft are added to their fleet and preparation continues for the safe restart of travel. Flair’s ambitious expansion focuses on domestic markets first, ensuring all Canadians are connected with affordable travel options. “We are excited to bring ULCC service to Montreal and to provide our low fares to a region where Canadians have been paying far too much for far too long,” says Stephen Jones, President & CEO. “Providing affordable air travel within Canada is an essential first step in restarting travel and tourism. We know there is a need for ULCC service in Montreal and are thrilled to bring our low fares to the area.” Flair was one of the first airlines to focus its network exclusively on essential domestic travel during the pandemic. Flair continues to operate only essential service through April and will begin increasing service in May as vaccinations continue and anticipation of travel returns. “We know there will be a need for affordable airfare once it is safe for us to travel again. As a ULCC, Flair doesn’t have the overhead and costs associated with legacy organizations and networks. This allows our efficiencies to be passed along in our pricing. Families and friends are eagerly waiting to connect, and Flair is here to ensure they can afford to fly once it is safe again to travel.” One-way fares on several of the new Montreal routes start as low as $49 with taxes and fees included. In addition, Flair provides COVID Coverage which allows passengers to easily change their travel plans given the continued uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Bookings are now available for the newly announced routes for travel through October 30, 2021, at flyflair.com. About Flair Airlines Flair Airlines is Canada’s only independent Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) and is on a mission to liberate the lives of Canadians by providing affordable air travel that connects them to the people and experiences they love. With an expanding fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Flair is growing to serve 19 cities across Canada. For more information, please visit www.flyflair.com. Flair Airlines Montreal Service (July 1, 2021 – October 30, 2021) Route ● Service Begins ● Frequency YUL-YVR ● 01-July-21 ● M, Tu, Th, F, Sa, Su YUL-YYZ ● 01-July-21 ● Daily YUL-YHZ ● 03-July-21 ● M, W, Sa, Su YUL-YXX ● 03-Aug-21 ● Tu, W, Sa

This will indeed be interesting to watch, will the lawsuit be successful and if so will it set a precedent?

Looking at the near future? WestJet, JetBlue, Bamboo Airways Secure London Heathrow Slots 27 March 2021Canadian Aviation News From AirlineGeeks – link to source story March 27, 2021 | By Winston Shek On Friday, the Airports Council of the United Kingdom released its latest slot allocation report on its airports, including London Heathrow. The report listed multiple airlines that secured slots including JetBlue, Bamboo Airways and WestJet, amid a slowdown in air traffic at the busiest airport in the United Kingdom. WestJet WestJet obtained slots to London Heathrow for daily flights to Calgary and Vancouver. The Canadian carrier was allocated 732 slots, allowing it to start services as soon as May 1. Currently, the low-cost Canadian airline has slots at neighboring Gatwick that allow four daily services a day to Calgary, Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver. It is unknown whether WestJet will utilize Heathrow instead of Gatwick. The flights will operate from Terminal 2. From Heathrow’s Terminal Finder tool, it displays a slot for a 9 a.m. arrival and 11 a.m. departure for Vancouver service and 11:20 a.m. arrival and 1:20 p.m. departure for Calgary service. Tentatively, WestJet has filed a return to London at the end of May as the airline plans its return to transatlantic service when Canadian borders reopen. Last year, WestJet resumed 3x weekly service from Calgary to London Gatwick before canceling it due to the closure of Canadian borders. These flights will operate using WestJet’s Boeing 787-9 featuring 320 seats, including 16 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 28 premium class seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 276 economy class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

ICAO Joins WHO And Other Agencies Calling On Aircrew Vaccine Priority byChris Loh March 27, 2021 The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is joining a number of other UN agencies in calling for priority vaccinations for aircrew. The main argument underpinning this request is that vaccinating this sector of society will ensure the optimal operation of civil aviation networks and the global transport of essential shipments. Fostering economic recovery through global trade and mobility As part of a March 26th statement, the ICAO joined four other UN organizations in its appeal for countries to prioritize both aircrew and maritime workers. The other organizations included the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This appeal came in the form of a joint statement, signed by the respective head of each UN body. The statement says that maritime and air transport are essential activities underpinning global trade and mobility, and key to a sustainable socio-economic recovery and points out that travel restrictions- particularly on workers in air and sea transportation- have raised costs while limiting important mobility: 1.4M 226 What Are The World’s Largest Aircraft Graveyards? “As the Joint Statement draws attention to, the application of stringent public health rules to these key workers, including quarantine, has resulted in hindered connectivity, operational complexity, and significant costs.” -Dr. Fang Liu, Secretary General, ICAO The ICAO notes that in 2019, air transport carried about 5.7 billion passengers, and airfreight pre-pandemic represented 35% of the value of goods shipped in all modes combined. Therefore, the ICAO and its fellow organizations is calling on governments to prioritize maritime workers and aircrew in their national COVID-19 vaccination programs. The organization would like to see air and sea workers grouped together with other essential workers, “in accordance with the WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines.” Joint statement advises against vaccination as entry requirement Another portion of the Joint Statement came out against proof of vaccination for international travel, as a condition of entry. This was advice came via the WHO, which explained that this was due to both the critical unknowns regarding the efficacy of vaccination in reducing transmission, and the limited global availability of vaccine doses. ICAO statistics notes that pre-pandemic licensed aviation professionals, including pilots, air traffic controllers, and licensed maintenance technicians, totaled approximately 887,000. However, many countries are moving ahead with implementing entry policies that at least make vaccination a condition to avoid a 10-14 day quarantine. The majority of countries with this type of arrivals policy are in Europe, and include: Estonia Iceland Greece Poland Romania The article on this particular topic can be found here. In the end it will be up to each country to decide what level of priority air (and sea) crew will have when it comes to getting their vaccinations. Politics may also be a determining factor, as various groups fight for their place in the vaccination line-up.

CMA CGM Cargo Plans To Add New York & Atlanta To Route Network by Mark Finlay March 27, 2021 French Ocean container line CMA CGM’s new cargo airline CMA CGM AIR CARGO announced via social media on Friday that it would be operating two new roots from Liege, Belgium, to Atlanta and New York from Sunday, March 28, 2021. This news comes fast on the heels of the launch of its first route between Liège Airport (LGG) and Chicagos’ O’Hare International Airport (ORD), which commenced flights just over two weeks ago. CMA CGM Air Cargo already flies to Chicago. Photo: CMA CGM Air Cargo The aircraft, registration number OO-AIR, is the second of four used Airbus A330-200F aircraft that CMA CGM AIR CARGO plans to use on routes between the former industrial powerhouse and the United States. After seeing a surge in demand for air cargo and the logistics required to ship the COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, CMA CGM AIR CARGO purchased the aircraft from Qatar Airways Cargo. The planes are from Qatar Airways Cargo Wanting to strike while the iron is hot, CMA CGM AIR CARGO opted to buy four used Airbus A330-200F aircraft from Qatar Airways Cargo. The Gulf carrier had already earmarked the retirement of its four remaining A330-200F to make way for the arrival of new Boeing triple seven freighters from Boeing’s Everett factory in Washington. With the Boeing 777F’s arriving in January 2021, the timing was perfect for CMA CGM’s new Liege-based cargo airline launch. According to the aviation enthusiast website planespotters.net, the four 60-tonne-payload Airbus A330-200F freighter aircraft are relatively young, with an average age of 5.7 years. CMA CGM Air Cargo is based at Liege Airport in Belgium. Photo: CMA CGM Air Cargo When speaking about why the container shipping giant had decided to get into the air freight business, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group Rodolphe Saadé said the following in a company statement released February 12, 2021: “In response to the growing demand from our customers for agile logistics solutions, we are creating a new division within the CMA CGM Group dedicated to air transport: CMA CGM Air Cargo. This division will launch with four Airbus A330-200F aircraft and will leverage commercial partnerships with airlines in order to deliver global coverage. This is a major milestone in the development of our logistics services.” Air Belgium will operate the planes In another move designed to get the airline flying as soon as possible, CMA CGM decided to partner with Air Belgium and operate its aircraft under Air Belgiums’ Air Operators Certificate (AOC) rather than wait to get an AOC of its own. With ORD taking care of the distribution and logistics of goods arriving in the midwestern United States, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) will take care of the northeast. At the same time, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) will be the south’s gateway. Why Liege Airport? Liege Airport is strategically located at the heart of the Amsterdam-Paris-Frankfurt golden triangle, one of the busiest business districts in all of Europe. Located less than a day’s drive from most of Europes major city’s Liege Airport is easily accessed by a superb uncongested motorway network. CMA CGM Air Cargo Air Belgium operates CMA CGM Air Cargo flights. Image: CMA CGM Air Cargo It is primarily set up to operate as a cargo airport; Liege airport handles 73% of all European air freight by offering the facilities and prices that other airports can’t match.

How John Glenn nearly died - MiG Mad Marine, the Real Story of Friendship 7 & NASA's Project Mercury - YouTube

WestJet leads domestic recovery with the addition of 11 new routes 26 March 2021Canadian Aviation News 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 For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Yes I imagine it will be bad for commodity prices (do supply chain delays) if enough ships have to sail around the "Cape of Good Hope" instead of being able to use the canal. But evidently the route around the cape could be cheaper in terms of $$$ but not time.

More than 1,400 tourism workers to help deliver B.C. vaccinations Calgary Herald 25 Mar 2021 LAURA DHILLON KANE More than 1,400 tourism and hospitality workers who have been laid off or are struggling with reduced hours are set to provide non-clinical help with the COVID-19 immunization rollout in British Columbia. Premier John Horgan said the province has partnered with 14 hard-hit businesses across the province, including Air Canada, Westjet and the Vancouver International Airport, to help get some of their employees back to work. These companies have already begun to call and train hundreds of staff, he said, and they will provide their expertise at immunization clinics to help move people through the facilities efficiently and safely, with some using language skills. “These are challenging times, but they are also inspiring times,” he told a news conference Wednesday. Horgan said other businesses or organizations involved in the partnership include the Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver Giants, Fraser Valley Bandits, Tourism Whistler, Pacific National Exhibition, B.C. Business Council and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. Some companies will fully pay their employees' salaries as they work in the clinics, while the province will fill in the gaps for those who aren't paid, Horgan said. He did not specify how much the workers would be paid or how much the program would cost. Dr. Penny Ballem, who is leading B.C.'S immunization program, said these companies have suffered significantly in the past year and the province is extremely grateful to the tourism employees who have stepped forward to use their skills. Baljinder Sandhu, a Westjet customer service agent, said she and other airline workers have been deeply affected by the pandemic. Her hours were reduced from fulltime to part-time, so she said she jumped at the opportunity to help in a clinic in Richmond, B.C. “I was the first to put up my hand,” she said. “We want to get B.C. back to normal and our airlines back to normal, and we will do anything to help out.” Ceres Terminals Canada, which operates the cruise port at Vancouver's Canada Place, is also participating in the partnership. Regional vice-president Kathy delisser said the industry has been hit particularly hard, with a continued ban on cruise ships through 2022. “Many of our staff were facing another year of unemployment. This partnership has meant that we've been able to employ with our cruise partners over 300 personnel and counting to be able to work in these clinics,” she said. Horgan was asked about proposed legislation in the U.S. that would allow cruise ships to bypass B.C. He said he doubted it would pass, but he has been in touch with the government south of the border and will reach out to the Alaska governor's office on the issue. The premier said B.C.'S vaccination program has seen a success, but the province has also seen a recent increase in cases, which means residents must continue to follow public health orders. “All of us are tired of this,” he said. “We're just exhausted with COVID-19. But we are not out of the woods yet. We have several more miles to go before we rest.” B.C. announced 716 new cases on Wednesday and three Covid-related deaths for a total of 1,441 fatalities since the pandemic started. So far, 582,634 vaccine doses have been administered in the province. Horgan said he expected his government to introduce regulations to require employers to give employees paid time off to get their vaccinations, similar to measures taken by Saskatchewan. The premier assured residents that immunizations would remain on track despite the European Union holding back shipments of Moderna and Pfizer-biontech doses, as well as a Reuters report that said India is freezing major exports of the Oxford-astrazeneca vaccine. Horgan said his office spoke with the federal government on both issues on Wednesday and received assurances that it is “full steam ahead,” though he added that B.C. will continue to be prudent and strategic with scarce resources of vaccine.

WestJet And Delta Deepen Partnership – How Much More Can They Do? byJay Singh March 20, 2021 American carrier Delta Air Lines and Canadian airline WestJet have deepened their partnership with reciprocal elite benefits. This enhanced partnership is good for elite members of both airlines. It represents the two carriers seeking to continue to partner as closely as possible outside of a joint venture agreement. While the two airlines sought to form a joint venture (JV), the US Department of Transportation (DOT) sought some conditions that led the two airlines to drop plans for the JV in a scathing rebuke. WestJet and Delta have deepened elite reciprocal benefits. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying Delta and WestJet deepen partnership Delta and WestJet have launched enhanced elite reciprocal loyalty benefits for Delta SkyMiles Medallion members and WestJet Rewards members. Though both airlines have had an earn and burn ability for miles, additional benefits have been limited. The deeper partnership will allow both airlines’ elite customers to receive priority boarding, priority check-in, lounge access, preferred seats (with waived seat selection fees), additional checked baggage allowance, and priority handling. Where available, elite members can take advantage of priority security checks. Alain Bellemare, EVP and President – International at Delta, shared the following in a statement: “These enhanced customer benefits are the foundation for creating a more seamless travel experience for our joint customers as we work towards improving our products and services. Even though the transborder network is limited at present, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these improvements will be available as the network rebounds and customers are ready to travel again.” Delta and WestJet axed JV plans In late-November, Delta and WestJet abandoned their JV plans. The two airlines, initially very optimistic about a joint venture, dropped the plans. In a strong rebuke to the DOT, the airlines called the DOT’s requirements to move forward with the JV “draconian.” After examining the JV, the DOT asked the two airlines to give up slots at New York’s LaGuardia (LGA). The DOT wanted a divestiture of 16 LGA slot pairs in total. Delta and WestJet strongly opposed this, mainly because the two airlines do not compete against each other out of LaGuardia. Giving up slots at LaGuardia just proved to be a little too much for Delta and WestJet to stomach. Photo: Getty Images For Delta, in particular, LGA is one of the most important hubs for the carrier. The leading short-haul gateway out of New York City, the airline is building up a New York hub, which is a very competitive market, and they do not want to lose any sort of slots to potential competitors. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests! Advertisement: Delta and WestJet cannot cooperate very deeply The Delta-WestJet joint venture would be a “metal-neutral” partnership for transborder routes between the US and Canada. The two airlines will be able to share incremental profits and losses, which would make operations indifferent as to which carrier’s planes are flying a route. Delta and WestJet wanted to create a more extensive network that also includes WestJet’s ultra-low-cost-carrier brand Swoop. Hoping to compete against the Air Canada and United Airlines partnership, the airlines sought to create a more comprehensive and extensive transborder network. WestJet and Delta would come in with 27% of the US-Canada transborder market, while Air Canada and United make up 57% of capacity. The airlines now are mostly focused on a codeshare relationship. Customers can book codeshare tickets on either Delta or WestJet’s booking tool. Codeshare relationships are a little different compared to JV relationships. Delta and WestJet are mostly unilaterally adding routes instead of partnering with operations and jointly determining which routes would work well for an airline. It matters which airline operates the route with a codeshare relationship while the same is not true for metal-neutral joint ventures. While Delta may do well with American customers heading to Canada, some Canadians may not have the brand loyalty to step onboard a Delta flight. Photo: Getty Images There are limits to the Delta-WestJet partnership, but elite reciprocal benefits are nothing new in the industry. Airline partners typically try to make elite members feel valued across both airlines, and it does help drive some incremental passenger revenue to the other airline on transborder routes. The two carriers are getting a little close to the edge of their limits on partnerships. Unless WestJet and Delta reapply for a JV and the DOT gets a change of heart, requiring fewer conditions for the JV to move forward, the two airlines are nearing the end of the depth of their cooperation. Do you think Delta and WestJet should get an immunized JV? Are you going to benefit from the enhanced elite reciprocal benefits? Let us know in the comments!

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/video/nhq_2021_0319_twn.mp4

Don Martin: Travelling back to normal is going to require vaccine certification @DonMartinCTV Contact Published Friday, March 19, 2021 9:09AM EDT CTV QP: How does a vaccine passport work?port departure lounge near you: Boarding pass? Check. Photo ID? Check. Related Stories Trudeau warns COVID-19 vaccine passports raise 'questions of fairness' COVID-19 vaccination certificate? Whaaat? With injections ramping up quickly, the federal government should be turning its attention to the fall of 2021 when vaccinated Canadians will be salivating to re-enter global travel and large-crowd hospitality venues. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains far from clear on what his government is doing to meet the demand for international COVID-19 vaccine certification. And, whether he likes it or not, this hot potato won’t toss out of the federal government’s hands. If certification becomes mandatory to enter sports stadiums, entertainment arenas or restaurants, that will be up to the owners. Requiring one for workers in meatpacking plants or on assembly lines will be up to their employers. Compulsory vaccination for health care workers and other public service employees is up to the provinces. But negotiating, designing and implementing some sort of vaccination proof for travel outside Canada is a sole federal responsibility. And this big job seems to be on the fringes of cabinet decision-making. Trudeau’s gone from declaring certification to be an idea ‘fraught with challenges’ to one the government is pondering. Public Safely Minister Bill Blair nixed the notion of using land border crossings for a pilot project, somehow believing that a limited reopening to vaccinated arrivals isn’t any better than a complete closure to non-Canadian travellers. Given that international partners will be required to create a certificate for Canadians leaving the country or foreigners coming to Canada, one might think the minister of foreign affairs would be engaged. So far, crickets from Marc Garneau. Health Minister Patty Hajdu seems to understand the need for Canada to be a player in making an international certification happen, but shies away from any firm commitment beyond it being a ‘live’ issue. This great hesitancy suggests Canada will be a distant follower, not a leader, in promoting the concept of vaccine passports. We will end up playing catch-up to a world getting ready to embrace vaccine verification over trust in forehead temperature readings and three-day-old test results. Of course, there are secondary concerns and considerations before mandated certification can be implemented. Until vaccination is definitively proven to prevent transmission of the virus or the general population has achieved herd immunity, safe vaccinated travel can only resume in tandem with continued testing. And the fact some people cannot medically handle the vaccine means exemptions will have to be made. But if Canada continues to dither on the file, it will become a forced follower in the months to come. The European Union is proposing it. You’ll never get into Australia or New Zealand without it. The U.S., which is never shy about raising its drawbridges for America-first protection, will probably require proof of vaccination for inbound travellers. Be it a digital imprint on your passport, a QR code that can be scanned from your phone at the security gate or a stamp on your health care card, something should be in the advanced planning stages by a government which insists we’ll see vaccination for everyone before the summer ends. As for the anti-vaxxer crowd, well, perhaps it’s time to get booking those domestic staycations for the next few years. Until COVID-19 has been vanquished to the pandemic history books, you’re going nowhere. That’s the bottom line.

Flair Airlines plans European-style relaunch with its new 737 Max fleet 18 March 2021Canadian Aviation News From The Globe and Mail – link to source story ALLISON LAMPERT, MONTREAL, REUTERS | MARCH 18, 2021 Flair Airlines grabbed Boeing 737 Max planes at ‘a great price’ to accelerate a relaunch, its CEO Stephen Jones says.KAREN DUCEY/REUTERS Flair Airlines, which made headlines by handing Boeing a crucial order for 737 Max jets last week, is forging growth plans inspired by the austerity that transformed Hungary’s Wizz Air into one of Europe’s largest carriers. Former Wizz executive Stephen Jones, brought in from Europe to run Flair last year, said the Canadian company had grabbed planes at “a great price” to accelerate a relaunch based on the imported recipe of extreme cost discipline. “In many ways, the future of Flair will be a cookie-cutter of the success of Wizz,” the CEO said. One difference? Flair is basing its growth on Boeing jets whereas Wizz shot up the rankings to become one of Airbus’s biggest customers. In both cases, jet prices were key. Shares in Boeing rose 6 per cent on Friday when one of Flair’s main backers said it would order 24 of the troubled Max jets, before leasing 13 of them to Edmonton-based Flair. The Max is back in the air after regulators declared it safe in December, following a 20-month grounding in the wake of two fatal crashes. But Boeing has dozens of cancelled jets in storage and is seen as aggressively chasing deals to restore confidence. “[That] we are actually able to order them this month and have them delivered in two months’ time is very unusual under normal circumstances,” Mr. Jones said. “You may have anything up to a two or three year wait. “And also to get them at a great price,” he added, without giving details. The Max sells for US$122-million at list prices, but market sources say 50-per-cent discounts were common across the industry before the crisis and may now be steeper. That comes as Flair, originally a charter airline, is in the midst of reinventing itself as an “ultralow-cost carrier” (ULCC). Such airlines offer even lower prices than many budget rivals but charge for multiple extras. They have made less headway in North America than in Europe, but analysts say that could change in the postpandemic era. With one plane now flying, Flair is moving forward this summer with domestic growth plans at a time when the Canadian aviation sector is reeling because of the pandemic. Air traffic was hit so hard that a British Columbia airport that largely serves corporate aircraft and flight schools eclipsed Toronto’s Pearson as the country’s busiest airport in 2020 by aircraft movements, according to Statistics Canada. Such upheaval is synonymous with the rise of Wizz, one of the few airlines in the world to keep taking planes during the crisis at a time when many rivals are doing the opposite. Founded in 2003, Wizz Air was originally focused on stimulating travel with its cheap ticket prices in central and eastern Europe. It increasingly competes with Europe’s two largest low cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet. Like former bosses at Wizz, Mr. Jones and a commercial chief also recruited from the Hungarian budget giant are betting that travel will rebound quickly as COVID-19 vaccinations ramp up. Flair plans to bring in eight Max jets over the summer and the remaining five before 2022. It will eventually add cross-border flights with a goal to get to 50 jets within five years. But analysts warn the two Wizz veterans face one of the world’s hardest markets for airlines. Canada has high taxes and fees, and tough travel rules, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals during the pandemic. “Challenger businesses are often dismissed by the incumbent,” Mr. Jones said. “But piece by piece you have to prove yourself.” Flair Airlines plans European-style relaunch with its new 737 Max fleet – Canadian Aviation News (wordpress.com)

Iceland Scraps Border Restrictions For All Vaccinated Travelers byPranjal Pande March 18, 2021 2 minute read Iceland has officially reopened its border to all travelers who can prove they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This means travelers no longer need to quarantine or even get tested before flying into the country. Iceland is one of the few European countries that has managed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, with only a handful of daily cases currently. Iceland could be the next spring or summer holiday destination for those who have got their vaccinations. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying Iceland has officially become one of the few countries to have reopened its border to the world. Starting from today, March 18th, travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can enter the country without a test or quarantine period. While several countries have opened their borders in recent months, they all still have testing requirements. To be eligible, travelers must have received one of the four vaccines approved by the European Medical Agency (EMA), which are made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. However, those with proof of prior infection with COVID-19 can also skip the testing and quarantine measures. Test run successful This isn’t the first time Iceland has relaxed restrictions for travelers. In January, the country opened its border to vaccinated travelers (or those previously infected) from the EU. After finding success with this easing, Iceland has gone ahead to open its border fully. Iceland’s decision to reopen is particularly notable considering how few cases it currently has. In the last year, the country has seen 29 deaths and 6,089 cases, a tiny fraction of other European countries. It has also used testing at the border and shorter quarantines to keep out infections, unlike the lengthy 14-day quarantine instituted by other countries with similar case counts. Considering the border reopening is a possible risk, Iceland has gone with the data. In a statement, Chief Epidemiologist Thórólfur Gudnason said, “Our experience and data so far indicate very strongly that there is very little risk of infection stemming from individuals who have acquired immunity against the disease, either by vaccination or by prior infection. When people are protected against the same disease, with the same vaccines that are produced by the same companies, there is no medical reason to discriminate on the basis of the location where the jab is administered.” The future? Countries around the world will follow Iceland’s decision as a template for future reopenings. If the country manages to keep cases low and rebuild its tourism industry, many others might follow and ease their own border controls. With summer right around the corner, eager (and vaccinated) travelers can add Iceland as a destination they can visit.

An example of getting what you wish for. ? Coronavirus: U.S.-Canada land border restrictions extended for at least another month | CTV News