AirCanada News / Jazz News / Rouge News

[Maverick]

If it walks like a duck...

[Tango Foxtrot]

On 4/12/2022 at 6:37 AM, st27 said:

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/canadian-pilots-held-in-dominican-republic-after-reporting-huge-cocaine-stash-on-plane

Looks like there's a link to Air Canada / Jazz after all.  The aircraft involved is C-FWRR.  Ex Air Canada CRJ 100. 

[Kip Powick]

5 hours ago, Tango Foxtrot said:

Looks like there's a link to Air Canada / Jazz after all.  The aircraft involved is C-FWRR.  Ex Air Canada CRJ 100. 

 That part of the narrative is totally irrelevant and is merely "filler" that has absolutely nothing to do with the present situation. 

[conehead]

1 hour ago, Kip Powick said:

 That part of the narrative is totally irrelevant and is merely "filler" that has absolutely nothing to do with the present situation. 

It’s interesting trivia though. I’ve worked on that very aircraft, and crawled around in the compartment where they found all the powder.

[Falken]

CH - did you happen to leave anything behind?

[Airband]

Dominican judge grants bail for Canadian crew jailed after reporting cocaine on airliner

The court ruling is the latest twist in an unusual tale that Pivot Airlines says turned the heroes of the day into criminal suspects

Thu Apr 14, 2022  - National Post
by Tom Blackwell

A judge in the Dominican Republic has ordered the release of a Canadian airline crew who are said to have reported a large stash of cocaine hidden inside their plane — then were jailed in precarious conditions next to alleged drug traffickers.

The judge said they could be freed at an undetermined time on payment of one-million pesos — about $23,000 — bail each, according to a local news report and a source familiar with the situation.

The six passengers on the plane, a charter flight due to return to Toronto last week, were to be freed from prison under similar conditions, the judge ruled. Four are Canadian, one an Indian national and one Dominican.

Pivot Airlines, which owns the Bombardier-built CRJ-100 jet, had earlier expressed grave concerns for the safety of their employees, calling it unacceptable that they would be imprisoned in the first place.

According to a report in the country’s El Nacional newspaper, though, prosecutors are reviewing the decision and whether to appeal it.

It is the latest twist in an unusual tale that Pivot says turned the heroes of the day into criminal suspects.

The plane had until two years ago been part of a predecessor company that operated Air Canada Express flights under contract. It flew to Punta Cana on March 31, chartered by an Alberta company that was entertaining potential investors, said the source, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive situation.

According to Pivot, a maintenance technician who was travelling with the two pilots and two flight attendants discovered a black bag inside an “avionics bay,” a crawl space beneath the cockpit that contains computer hardware and wiring.

The crew reported the find to both local authorities and the RCMP, the airline says.
(cont'd)

 

[Kip Powick]

I agree with the comments about a possible fire due to the EB overheating but was wondering if that amount of weight in that area would  seriously affect the C of G  to the extent that the aircraft would be exceedingly dangerous to fly.

Pilots of that type ?????

[Jack Sparrow]

20 hours ago, Kip Powick said:

I agree with the comments about a possible fire due to the EB overheating but was wondering if that amount of weight in that area would  seriously affect the C of G  to the extent that the aircraft would be exceedingly dangerous to fly.

Pilots of that type ?????

It’s been nearly a decade since I last flew the CRJ100/200, but I do recall not infrequently needing to load a number of 50lb sandbags in the baggage compartment at times when pax load and bag load was low, due to an inherent FWD CG typical in those models. 
any “unknown” extra load in the avionics bay near the nose would certainly exacerbate the issue.  

[Kip Powick]

46 minutes ago, Jack Sparrow said:

It’s been nearly a decade since I last flew the CRJ100/200, but I do recall not infrequently needing to load a number of 50lb sandbags in the baggage compartment at times when pax load and bag load was low, due to an inherent FWD CG typical in those models. 
any “unknown” extra load in the avionics bay near the nose would certainly exacerbate the issue.  

Thank you , two rides as a pax, never flew it.

[rudder]

“The carrier announced last month that it will boost its full-year seat capacity by 150 per cent compared to 2021 levels as COVID-19 restrictions ease in Canada and around the world and demand ramps up. But the airline noted that a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels will take longer, as this year's capacity levels represent 75 per cent of what Air Canada flew in 2019. The airline says it expects capacity to reach 95 per cent of its 2019 levels by 2024.”

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/air-canada-flies-100000-passengers-in-one-day-for-first-time-since-march-2020-193459190.html

[Guest1]

Also posted in Russia Invades Ukraine

Air Canada Facilitates Flights for Ukrainians to Travel to Canada with Aeroplan Donation

---

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Air Canada 

Apr 20, 2022, 14:36 ET

 

• 100 million Aeroplan Points donated for travel on Air Canada, Star Alliance partners
• Shapiro Foundation to double Aeroplan member donations up to 50 million points; Miles4 Migrants to manage and facilitate bookings

MONTREAL, April 20, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ -Air Canada today said it is donating 100 million Aeroplan points to support the Canadian government's initiative to bring Ukrainians to Canada. The points will contribute towards facilitating transportation and can be used on flights operated by Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners including Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SWISS, United Airlines and other carriers.  The Shapiro Foundation is also contributing to this effort and Miles4Migrants, a non-profit charity will manage and facilitate the flight bookings.

"Together with our employees, we are ready and prepared to assist and support the Canadian Government's plans to bring Ukrainian people to Canada. With our 100 million Aeroplan points donation, we offer our global network and the strength of our Star Alliance partnerships, in facilitating travel to Canada. We are proud to work with other organizations and international programs to contribute towards a goal to enable up to 10,000 people to travel to Canada as quickly as possible," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

"Our vision at Miles4Migrants is a world where displaced persons of all backgrounds can find safety and community in new homes. As we have been seeing Ukrainians become displaced, our community of donors has once again responded, donating to support flights for Ukrainian families to reach safety over the past weeks," said Diane Padilla, Executive Director of Miles4Migrants.

"We are honoured and ready to join the Government of Canada, The Shapiro Foundation, and Air Canada to expand our impact and help fly thousands of Ukrainians to their new homes. We are confident that the Canadian public and private sector will join us in our effort to fund their flights."

"We are humbled to be able to play a part in assisting Ukrainian families who are being so warmly welcomed by Canadians. We know that access to flights is a critical need and we are proud to partner with Air Canada. We will double Aeroplan member donations towards Ukrainian travel, and donate the equivalent of up to 50 million Aeroplan points to help more people travel to Canada," said Ed Shapiro, trustee for The Shapiro Foundation.

Aeroplan members may elect to contribute towards this initiative facilitating Ukrainians travelling to Canada by donating Aeroplan points at Ukrainian Relief Fund.  From April 20 2022 until July 2022, members who donate Aeroplan Points to the Ukrainian Relief Fund or to Miles4Migrants will double the impact of their contribution as the value of the points donated will be matched, by a donation equal to up to 50,000,000 points, by the Shapiro Foundation.

Air Canada's support for Ukrainian relief aid to date includes:

• An Air Canada donation of $10 per booking made on its website starting March 22 for a total donation of $250,000 to Ukraine relief aid;
• Air Canada employees and the Air Canada Foundation donated $170,000 to support Ukraine relief;
• On March 9 Air Canada operated a humanitarian special cargo flight on behalf of Airlink and other aid partners transport hospital beds, humanitarian and medical supplies to Warsaw, Poland and medicines destined for Lviv, Ukraine;
• Ongoing transportation of medical supplies to Europe with a final destination in the Ukraine;
• Transportation of rapid response teams to scale up operations in Europe to help arriving Ukrainian families.

About Air Canada

[Airband]

In 'shocking move,' Dominican prosecutors appeal bail decision for Canadians from cocaine-carrying plane

Pivot Airlines said it is 'deeply concerned' for its employees’ safety and that the federal government must do more

Fri Apr 29, 2022 - National Post
by Tom Blackwell

Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have appealed a decision to free on bail the crew and passengers of a Canadian charter airliner where a 210-kilogram stash of cocaine was found, a legal move the plane’s owner calls “shocking.”

Pivot Airlines said in a statement Friday it is “deeply concerned” for its employees’ safety and that the federal government must do more to try to secure their safe return.

The five Pivot crew members and six passengers were ordered released from jail earlier this month on $23,000 bail and a requirement that they stay in the country until the investigation of the drug find is completed.

The airline has complained about that stipulation preventing the Canadians from leaving the Dominican Republic, noting that it was members of the crew who discovered the contraband secreted in the plane’s “aviation bay” and then reported it to authorities.

The judge who ordered them released noted that prosecutors had presented no evidence tying the crew or passengers to the cocaine.

They had already spent several days in jail by the time they won bail, some of them in communal cells alongside accused drug traffickers. Even after being released, they were subject to credible death threats, the airline said.

“In a shocking move, the prosecutor has recently filed an appeal of the court’s decision to grant our crew bail, despite having no evidence tying them to a crime,” Pivot said in the statement.

It’s now well known in the Dominican Republic that the crew stymied the attempted smuggling of drugs worth as much as $25 million on the street in Canada, the company says. If they’re sent back to prison alongside narcotics criminals, they will be in serious danger, without the protection of the private security they had on the outside, said Pivot.

“It is entirely unacceptable that Canadian citizens could be arbitrarily detained for dutifully reporting criminal activity,” it said. “Together with international unions representing the crew, we are cautioning Canadian travellers and more than 70,000 airline employees to seriously consider the risks of travel to the Dominican Republic.”

“If reporting a crime in the Dominican Republic could result in arbitrary detention, the government must seriously consider issuing a similar travel advisory.”

Pivot said it was grateful for what help the federal government has offered so far. It’s providing consular support and Maninder Sidhu, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, raised the issue on a pre-planned visit to the country last week, according to Joly’s press secretary.

But “the simple fact is” that Ottawa has not done enough to get the Canadians back safely, said the statement.

“They miss their families. They fear for the lives, as well their mental and physical well-being. And they want to come home.”

The CRJ-100 regional jet landed in the Dominican Republic March 31, carrying potential investors being entertained by an Alberta company, says Pivot. They were supposed to leave April 5, but just before departing a mechanic travelling with the plane discovered a black bag inside the avionics bay, which holds electronic equipment.

Pivot alerted authorities in Canada and the Dominican Republic. Police there then discovered another seven bags, all stuffed with cocaine.

Prosecutors alleged at the bail hearing that the plane and its passengers were a “façade” designed to hide the flight’s true purpose — smuggling drugs into Canada.

But they said they were not alleging any of the group placed the cocaine in the plane, only that an unnamed additional person accompanied the crew and boarded the aircraft the day before it left.

Judge Francis Yojary Reyes Dilone said the fact the crew reported the contraband and that there was no evidence linking them or the passengers to the cocaine meant he had to impose less severe restrictions on the group than the prosecution had demanded.

[Airband]

Canadian airline crew detained in Dominican Republic urges Ottawa for safe return after drug seizure

Tue May03, 2022 - The Globe and Mail
by Alanna Smith

Quote

Death threats have continued since their release, and the airline has hired private security and relocated the crew regularly to avoid detection. Mr. Edmondson said the crew members are afraid being returned to prison would be a death sentence. “They don’t think they’ll be coming out of that jail if they get put back.”

An airline whose crew was detained in the Dominican Republic along with its passengers after alerting authorities to 200 kilograms of cocaine hidden in an internal compartment is urging the federal government to intervene ahead of a court hearing that could force them back to jail.

Eric Edmondson, chief executive officer of Pivot Airlines, sent a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly asking her to call on the Caribbean country to ensure the crew’s safe return to Canada.

“For more than 24 days, our crew has been subject to threats against their lives, inhumane treatment and arbitrary detention for dutifully reporting a crime and averting a potential aviation disaster,” Mr. Edmondson wrote. “Time is of the essence.”

Five Pivot Airlines crew members and six passengers were scheduled to return to Canada from Punta Cana on a chartered aircraft on April 5. Before takeoff, a mechanic discovered suspected contraband on board and police in Canada and the Dominican Republic were alerted. If the plane had taken off, Mr. Edmondson said, the location of the contraband could have sparked an uncontrollable fire.

Dominican authorities jailed all 11 people on the plane, sending men and women to separate facilities, according to the airline.

On April 6, the Dominican Republic’s National Directorate for Drug Control released a statement that said the group was “being questioned to determine their possible involvement” in the attempted shipment of illicit drugs. Two-hundred kilograms of cocaine, stashed in eight gym bags, was seized from the aircraft.

Mr. Edmondson said the men were sent to a prison meant for narcotics criminals and were subject to harassment and beatings. The airline hired someone to ensure Pivot staff were fed and protected to some extent in prison, he said.

The group was granted bail, but is not allowed to leave the Dominican Republic. Local prosecutors are attempting to appeal the court’s bail decision. It is not clear when the hearing will take place. Mr. Edmondson said prosecutors don’t have evidence connecting the crew to the cocaine.

Death threats have continued since their release, and the airline has hired private security and relocated the crew regularly to avoid detection. The passengers have separate legal counsel and are not staying with the airline staff.

Mr. Edmondson said the crew members are afraid being returned to prison would be a death sentence.

“It’s a one-way ticket,” he said. “They don’t think they’ll be coming out of that jail if they get put back.”

Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that it is aware of the incident involving Pivot Airlines and that Canadian officials are monitoring the situation, engaging with local authorities and providing consular assistance. Adrian Blanchard, press secretary to Ms. Joly, also said that Parliamentary Secretary Maninder Sidhu recently travelled to the Dominican Republic and met with government officials.

Mr. Edmondson said the government must do more.

“The government, we think, has to step up and intervene. It’s unacceptable a Canadian airline crew can be incarcerated wrongfully,” he said.

The federal government is urging Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution if they travel to the Dominican Republic, citing violent and opportunistic crime.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry in the Dominican Republic did not respond to a request for comment.

Family members have confirmed the identity of one of the passengers as Calgary-based photographer Brittney Wojcik-Harrison. A cousin, Bella Harrison, said the family learned about her imprisonment last Thursday from a lawyer in the Dominican.

“It just feels like a movie and, when it was happening, I almost didn’t believe it,” said Ms. Harrison, adding that her cousin had been vacationing in Punta Cana. “She’s really not okay. ... She’s just trying to keep her head above water.”

Ms. Harrison said Global Affairs Canada has provided little information to the family owing to provisions of the Privacy Act. She said Ms. Wojcik-Harrison is in a safe location.

“I’m just really shocked because I’ve been proud to be Canadian my whole life and just to see how little they care about this person that literally would never be involved in this, I just don’t understand that,” Ms. Harrison said. “How can they just forget about 11 people?”

[rudder]

Once again, the Pivot story has absolutely nothing to do with Air Canada, Jazz, or Rouge.

Please start a new thread. 

[Tango Foxtrot]

Rudder 

Please don't cloud the issue with facts

 

 

Edited May 4, 2022 by Tango Foxtrot

[Guest1]

Quote

CANADIAN AVIATION NEWS

The Air Canada Foundation Celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary with Renewed Commitment in Helping Kids Spread Their Wings

14 June 2022Canadian Aviation News

• 10 years of unwavering support and generosity from Air Canada employees, valuable partners, and customers.
• A decade making a difference in the lives of thousands of children across Canada and around the world.
• Supporting families throughout difficult and emotional times.

MONTREAL, June 14, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – The Air Canada Foundation (ACF) is today celebrating its milestone 10-year anniversary focusing on the health and well-being of children and youth. Since its inception in 2012, the Foundation has positively impacted the lives of thousands of children through its various programs, partnerships, and initiatives.

Over the past decade, the ACF has provided support to more than 200 Canadian charities each year, connecting children to medical care, alleviating child poverty and helping children fulfill their dreams. The Foundation has also offered continued support to major health-related causes that benefit Canadians and is an active participant in international humanitarian relief activities.

“The Air Canada Foundation represents the heart of our organization. Its impact over the last decade is immeasurable, and I can only imagine the continued success it will have moving forward,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada. “I’m so grateful to employees, retirees, volunteers, customers and all partners for their commitment and dedication over the years. The Foundation can count on me and Air Canada’s unwavering support. I will continue to enable opportunities for employees to get involved, and I welcome even more partners and customers to join us. Let’s keep working together and improve the lives of children and families.”

“I am proud to be celebrating today a significant milestone for the Foundation recognizing that every day represents a breakthrough for children and families undergoing difficult times.” said Priscille LeBlanc, Chair of the Air Canada Foundation. “Despite the recent challenging times, the Air Canada Foundation relentlessly pursued efforts to help Canadian families in need in creative and different ways and we look forward to seeing even more positive impact in the years to come.”

Air Canada has always played an active role in serving and helping the communities across Canada and around the world, but the 2010 earthquake in Haiti was the catalyst for the establishment of the Air Canada Foundation. The airline deployed a humanitarian mission destined to both bring life-saving medical equipment to the population and help with orphanages, bringing Haitian children back to Canada for adoption. The airline quickly realized how powerful travel could be and how it could enable children to thrive for a better life.

Achievements since 2012

The Air Canada Foundation is committed to giving back to children and communities through various programs and partnerships. Since 2012 it has:

• Donated more than $12 million in grants to Canadian-registered charities focused on the health and well-being of children.
• Donated more than 11,000 airline tickets to charitable organizations to support fundraising activities or program development.
• Made possible more than 9,000 flights to make children’s dreams come true.

Looking ahead to the next decade

As the Air Canada Foundation moves into its second decade, it is committed to continue helping kids spread their wings through its three new pillars:

• Wings of Health: Supporting pediatric hospitals, health organizations, medical transportation and treatment
• Wings of Protection: Supporting food security, child reunification, human trafficking survivors, humanitarian aid organizations and working against poverty.
• Wings to Dream: Supporting wish-granting for seriously ill, physically challenged and impoverished children.

To learn more about the Air Canada Foundation, including its programs and partnerships, please visit www.aircanada.com/foundation.

About the Air Canada Foundation

The Air Canada Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focused on the health and well-being of children and youth, was launched in 2012. It offers both financial and in-kind support to Canadian-registered charities. Core programs include the Hospital Transportation Program, which redistributes Aeroplan points to 15 pediatric hospitals across Canada, enabling sick children to access the medical care they need away from home. The Air Canada Foundation, in collaboration with the airline, also engages directly in fundraising activities, such as the Every Bit Counts program, which encourages Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge customers to donate loose change of all denominations on board flights or through collection containers available in Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges. The Foundation also offers continued support to major health-related causes that benefit Canadians and is an active participant in international humanitarian relief activity as the need arises. For more information about the Air Canada Foundation, please visit www.aircanada.com/foundation or in Air Canada’s 2020 Corporate Sustainability report available at www.aircanada.com/citizensoftheworld.

 

[Airband]

Two Air Canada planes came at risk of colliding while taking off on same runway in Toronto

Tue Jun 14, 2022 - CTV News
by Sean Davidson

Two Air Canada planes missed colliding at Toronto Pearson after the flight crew of a Boeing 777 and air traffic control missed a radio call saying another plane was still on the runway, a report says.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada  released a report on Tuesday into the March 2020 incident which the Board described as a "runway incursion and risk of collision" at Toronto Pearson.

According to the TSB report, an Air Canada Embraer 190 was taking off from Runway 06L just before 9:50 a.m. The plane, headed for Denver, was carrying 83 passengers and four crew members.

As the plane was taking off, an Air Canada Boeing 777 was instructed to line up on the same runway. On board the plane, which was going to Halifax, were 345 passengers and 14 crew members.

"As the Embraer 190 was accelerating on its take-off roll, it struck a bird," the TSB said. "The flight crew initiated a rejected takeoff and made a radio call to report that they were rejecting the takeoff."

The TSB said that the flight crew of the Boeing 777 and air traffic control missed the rejected take-off call from the Embraer 190 because at the same time the pilot of Boeing 777 was reading back its own take-off clearance on the same frequency.

"The controller issued a take-off clearance to the Boeing 777, unaware of the bird strike and the Embraer 190’s rejected takeoff," the report said.

"Over the next 25 seconds, the controller turned his attention to the north end of the airport, where two aircraft were on approach for Runway 05 … from his displays, he could see the Boeing 777 and the Embraer 190, but he saw no conflict at that time," the report said.

According to the report, the Boeing 777 flight crew reached a maximum speed of 231 km/h before noticing the other plane in front of it and rejected the take-off.

At that point, the separation between the two aircraft was 5,000 feet, the TSB said.

"The controller confirmed the rejected takeoff with the flight crew, still unaware of the Embraer 190’s presence on the runway, and waited to provide further assistance to the Boeing 777,” the report said. “After searching the expected position of the Embraer 190 (in the air, at the departure end of the runway), the controller saw the Embraer 190 on the runway, and realized that it had also conducted a rejected takeoff."

There were no injures or damage to either aircraft during the incident, the TSB said.

"The investigation found that the Embraer 190's transponder transmitted that the aircraft was in air after the aircraft accelerated past 50 knots,” the report said. "As a result, although compliant with current standards, an inaccurate in-air status was transmitted while the aircraft remained on the ground during its take-off roll and rejected takeoff."

"The use of this data by NAV CANADA’s runway incursion monitoring and conflict alert sub-system (RIMCAS) led to the inaccurate identification of the Embraer 190 and the Boeing 777 as in air while these two aircraft were still on the ground. This resulted in late and inaccurate RIMCAS alerts and delayed the air traffic controller's response to the risk of collision."

The TSB said the risk was mitigated when the Boeing 777 flight crew rejected their takeoff.

[conehead]

1 hour ago, Airband said:

 

"The investigation found that the Embraer 190's transponder transmitted that the aircraft was in air after the aircraft accelerated past 50 knots,” the report said. "As a result, although compliant with current standards, an inaccurate in-air status was transmitted while the aircraft remained on the ground during its take-off roll and rejected takeoff."

I don’t know why the transponder would be designed to do that. It could use a different input to meet that parameter, like WoW or RA. Maybe someone should take a look at that.

[spreadsheet]

Sad times, normally you'd be ecstatic for an event like F1 in your hub, but operational (staffing) constraints are making it a nightmare. And companies are in a tough spot - if they give a much needed increase in compensation to deal with the issues and we go into a recession, like many think we are, it's going to make it that much more painful down the road.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/jeremy-roenick-angry-montreal-airport-yul

[dagger]

Air Canada to Launch Seasonal Flights to Bangkok and Mumbai for Winter 2022-23 Only non-stop North America-Thailand route. Service to operate four-times weekly beginning Dec. 1

• Daily Toronto-Mumbai flights via London Heathrow beginning Oct. 29
• Restoration of key routes to India, Australia, New Zealand and Peru

MONTREAL, June 20, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today the expansion of its international network with the addition of Bangkok, Thailand, the carrier's first non-stop service to South-East Asia. The airline will also be resuming flights to Mumbai, its second destination in the strategic India market. Air Canada's seasonal service to Bangkok will operate from its trans-Pacific hub at Vancouver International Airport, while the carrier's Mumbai flights will operate from Toronto via London-Heathrow. Both routes are subject to receiving final government approvals.

"We are extremely pleased to be launching our first non-stop service to South-East Asia this winter, the only one between North America and Thailand. Thailand is a popular leisure destination for Canadians and this new service will give Aeroplan members exciting opportunities to both earn and redeem their points. For further convenience, our Bangkok flights will connect to our extensive domestic and trans-border network giving customers added seamlessness and choice when travelling," said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management, at Air Canada.

"We are also excited to return to Mumbai, India's largest city and an important financial, commercial, and entertainment hub, complementing our 13 weekly flights from Canada to Delhi. Our Mumbai services are scheduled to operate with a stop in London Heathrow, offering connectivity to more than a dozen Air Canada and Star Alliance partner United Airlines flights between North America and London, as well as additional options for travel between the UK and India. The India market remains very important to Air Canada, and we are committed to resuming our currently paused non-stop services on Toronto-Mumbai and Vancouver-Delhi when circumstances allow."

The planned service between Vancouver and Bangkok, as well as between Toronto and Mumbai via London-Heathrow, will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring three cabins of service for customers to choose from, including lie-flat seats in Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. Seats are available for sale now at aircanada.com, aircanada.com/Aeroplan, via the Air Canada App, Air Canada's Contact Centres, and travel agents.

Air Canada is bolstering its international winter offering to the South Pacific region with the return of seasonal service from Vancouver to Auckland, New Zealand, and additional flights to Sydney and Brisbane, Australia. Air Canada is also re-establishing international services to South America with the resumption of routes from Montreal and Toronto to Lima, Peru on a seasonal basis. 

"We continue to pursue our strategy of expanding our global network in response to pent-up demand, and expect to operate approximately 81 per cent of our 2019 international capacity this winter. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard," said Mr. Galardo.

Award Winning Service

Air Canada's onboard services on international flights showcase some of the best cuisine Canadian culinary talent has to offer with Air Canada's panel of celebrity chefs, including award-winning, Vancouver-based chefs David Hawksworthand Vikram Vij, and renowned Montreal chefs Antonio Park and chef Jérôme Ferrer. Complementing the culinary journey is a selection of top wines chosen by leading Canadian sommelier, Véronique Rivest.

All customers have the opportunity to collect and redeem points through Aeroplan, Canada's leading loyalty program, when travelling with Air Canada, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounges, priority boarding and other benefits.

Flight	From	To	Days of  Week	Departs	Arrives	Aircraft	Season
AC65	YVR  (Vancouver)	BKK  (Bangkok)	Mon,  Wed,  Fri, Sun	23:00	05:55 +2  days	Boeing 787	Dec. 1 - Apr. 14
AC66	BKK  (Bangkok)	YVR  (Vancouver)	Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun	08:30	06:35	Boeing 787	Dec. 4 - Apr. 17
AC856	YYZ  (Toronto)	LHR (London)	Daily	20:30	08:30 +1  day	Boeing 787	Oct. 29- Mar. 24
	LHR  (London)	BOM  (Mumbai)	Daily	11:10 +1 day	01:40 +2 days
AC855	BOM  (Mumbai)	LHR  (London)	Daily	04:50	09:20	Boeing 787	Oct. 31- Mar. 26
	LHR  (London)	YYZ  (Toronto)	Daily	12:00	14:55

Highlights of Air Canada's resumed and increased international routes for Winter 2022/23 include:

India:

Toronto-Mumbai	Seasonal daily flights resume Oct. 29 via London Heathrow
Toronto-Delhi	Daily flights remain year-round
Vancouver-Delhi	3 weekly flights resume Oct. 1. Outbound flight includes a technical stop in Dublin for operational purposes.
Montreal-Delhi	3 weekly flights remain year-round

South Pacific:

Vancouver-Auckland	3 flights weekly service resume Nov. 10, increasing to 5 flights weekly from Dec.-Mar.
Vancouver-Brisbane	Increases to 5 weekly flights in Dec.
Vancouver-Sydney	Increases to 10 weekly flights for Dec. and Jan.

Peru:

Toronto-Lima	Seasonal 2 weekly flights resume Nov. 4
Montreal-Lima	Seasonal 2 weekly flights resuming Oct. 30

[Airband]

No answers, no explanations for B.C. couple escorted off Montreal plane

The couple and 23 others were banned from Air Canada flights for next 24 hours

Josh Slatkoff and his wife Tara Sharpe had just been visiting family in Ottawa before they headed to Montreal to catch a connecting flight to London, U.K. 

Wed Jun 22, 2022 - CBC News

A couple from Victoria, B.C. say they've yet to receive an explanation about why they were escorted off a plane from Montreal Trudeau Airport overnight Tuesday.

Josh Slatkoff and his wife, Tara Sharpe, were left stranded in Montreal, banned from boarding another Air Canada flight for the next 24 hours after the captain of the plane made the order, he said.

They had been on their way to the U.K. for a memorial service, Slatkoff said.

"Her grandmother just passed away so we were going there to be with family. Our flight had a connection in Montreal," he said.

He says they had been seated and were waiting for the flight to London to get off the ground when a group of police officers boarded around 12:30 a.m. and began escorting two people off the plane. 

The plane was set to depart Monday night and though there had been delays, people on the flight were being patient, Slatkoff said. Some looked like they were returning from Grand Prix weekend.

"The next row in front of us was also removed, and that included a couple that was in their 70s. At that point I was completely shocked. We had no idea what to make of what was happening," Slatkoff said.

"Then the Air Canada attendant pointed at our row, and he told us we needed to leave as well."

It wasn't until the two reached the airport that an Air Canada agent told them the captain of the plane had asked for some people to be removed because they were drinking and not wearing masks.

But Slatkoff says he doesn't recall seeing any rowdy people on the plane, and that includes him and his wife.

"We showed our masks, N95s, and I said to her, 'Does this look like the kind of mask someone would wear if they were refusing to wear a mask?'"

'At Air Canada's mercy'

Air Canada says it's now investigating the incident. They confirmed a total of 25 people were "deplaned" from the flight.

"We understand that there are allegations that, in the course of removing these passengers, certain unrelated individuals were deplaned as well," the airline said in an email statement.

"Some of these deplaned customers were rebooked this morning and are on their way to their final destination."

But, as of Tuesday morning, Slatkoff said he was still waiting to hear from someone.

He stayed at a downtown hotel after getting stranded at the airport at 2:00 a.m. but now might need to plan for another night in the city. His luggage is in London.

"We're at Air Canada's mercy at this point," he said.

He and his wife were planning on staying in London with family until the end of the month before returning to Victoria. They're still planning on flying over.

"You have made a terrible mistake and I really want to see what you're going to do to make this right," Slatkoff said.

Airport Patrol at Trudeau airport said it responded to a situation on board an aircraft that evening and escorted passengers off the plane, at the request of the flight captain and crew. The Montreal police service, the SPVM, was also called due to the number of passengers involved but did not have to intervene.

[vrefplus5]

“His luggage is in London”? All these rule changes. I thought international pax had to travel with their stuff…..or it gets offloaded

[MCPSPEED]

On 6/22/2022 at 9:27 AM, vrefplus5 said:

“His luggage is in London”? All these rule changes. I thought international pax had to travel with their stuff…..or it gets offloaded

Of course the luggage had to have been offloaded.  I’m sure it did and this was embellished.

Talk about the perfect plan.  Check you luggage with an explosive, cause a scene to get kicked off and watch the plane takeoff

[Guest1]

1 hour ago, MCPSPEED said:

Of course the luggage had to have been offloaded.  I’m sure it did and this was embellished.

Talk about the perfect plan.  Check you luggage with an explosive, cause a scene to get kicked off and watch the plane takeoff

I can not find any regulations that require the removal of the baggage. Can you point to either law in Canada or Britain ?

[Guest1]

Here’s everything Air Canada is doing to keep travel moving this summer

Date: Jun 24 2022

 

By: Travelweek Group

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MONTREAL — Air Canada is outlining all the measures the company is taking during this extraordinary time of travel’s resurgence, after comments from the federal government that airlines must own their role in the current challenges at airport chaos.

For months now long lineups and delays at Canada’s biggest airports, particularly Pearson Airport, have frustrated travellers and the travel industry, especially on the heels of two years of travel shutdowns.

The federal government issued its latest update earlier this week, highlighting the measures its taken to alleviate the chaos.

As reported yesterday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, later said: “Airlines have a duty as well. We’re hearing some stories about luggage issues and flights cancelling. We’re making sure that the airlines keep up their end of the bargain.”

The National Airlines Council of Canada, which represents carriers including Air Canada, Transat and more, says they’ve already done that. “The delays at Canada’s airports are not due to staffing at levels at airlines, but rather due to the workforce challenges at NAV Canada (which runs the country’s air navigation service), CATSA and CBSA which have a cascading effect on flight schedules and resources across the ecosystem,” said Suzanne Acton-Gervais.

STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL ROUSSEAU

Following up on the NACC’s input, Air Canada has released a statement from President and CEO Michael Rousseau, following a meeting yesterday of senior Air Canada representatives and other key participants in the Canadian aviation industry and Minister Alghabra.

“At Air Canada, we know every trip is important, even more so today as many are flying for the first time in years to see loved ones or take an eagerly anticipated holiday. We are determined not to disappoint and have been long preparing for a travel surge this summer, including coordinating with our industry partners. As all businesses worldwide are finding, restarting after COVID is an extremely complex task and we deeply appreciate our customers’ understanding and patience during these often-frustrating times,” said Rousseau.

He notes that every day Air Canada currently operates more than 1,000 flights and regularly carries more than 120,000 people, with the vast majority of scheduled flights successfully completed.

“In recognition of the high importance Canadians place on travel and its value to the Canadian economy, Air Canada has recommitted to keep working alongside its industry partners and with the federal government to ensure Canadians continue to benefit from a safe, efficient and reliable air transportation system,” Rousseau said.

Here’s a roundup …

CUSTOMER INITIATIVES

• New Self-Service Re-accommodation tools will allow customers who have schedule changes, delays, or cancellations to request a refund if eligible or rebook their itineraries in a few minutes through its mobile app or website. This includes getting up to 20 alternative flight options (based on availability), choosing to fly to nearby airports instead, and the ability to search for flights in a three-day window. It’s available for customers regardless of how and where they booked their tickets;
• A goodwill policy has been implemented for passengers traveling via Toronto-Pearson to allow them to voluntarily increase their connection time at no cost for more flexibility when travelling. This policy can be applied within 48 hours of the original travel time;
• A second new policy will allow customers free, same-day stand-by options for earlier flights within Canada/Transborder regardless of fare brand or booking class;
• The airline maintains an updated travel readiness page on aircanada.com with the latest information and advice for those preparing to travel, including information about COVID-19 requirements. Customers are advised to consult this page before travelling.

IN AIRPORTS

• In addition to the recall of virtually all available Air Canada employees, more than 2,000 front-line airport employees (and 774 more people to work in call centres) have been hired and extensively trained over the last six months, with additional overtime and ongoing hiring, including drawing upon recently retired employees with special expertise;
• Employees have been reassigned from other bases to augment specific airports, including the cross-utilization of cargo employees to assist with airport passenger operations;
• Redeployed aircraft from the Jetz charter fleet to move delayed baggage, which has increased in large part due to air transport processing and infrastructure issues outside its control;
• Working closely with airport authorities, government and third-party agencies to enhance and expedite the processing of customers throughout their journey;
• Additional ground equipment has been acquired to improve airport operations.

NETWORK / SCHEDULE

• Minimum Connection Times for flights from international and transborder destinations connecting to domestic destinations have been increased by 30 minutes for new bookings in Toronto and Montreal, giving customers (and their baggage) additional time to connect;
• The schedule has been refined to reduce peak times at the Toronto-Pearson and Montreal-Trudeau airports by retiming and cancelling certain flights, or reducing frequencies, where protection is available to customers the same day. This will conserve resources and reduce stress on third-party service providers by smoothing passenger flows and be more convenient for customers;
• Aircraft gating at airports has been reconfigured. For example, widebody aircraft in Montreal travelling internationally and to the U.S. are being more conveniently located to achieve efficiencies during peak hours for added operational flexibility.