An Air Canada Jazz flight bound for St. John's was forced to return to Halifax shortly after takeoff Monday morning, due to smoke in the cockpit. The plane, carrying 42 passengers and three crew, landed safely in Halifax shortly after 6 a.m. Airline spokesperson Manon Stuart says the smoke had dissipated by the time the plane touched down, and the plane experienced no other problems. Stuart says the crew detected smoke in the cabin just after departure from Halifax, followed standard operating procedures, and requested priority landing at the airport. There was no fire.
2. Airlines Test Tag Your Own Luggage Program
Travelers flying with American Airlines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will now be able to tag their own bags at self-service kiosks.
Domestic airlines began testing the self-service bag tagging last November. American Airlines marks the first airline to allow passengers to tag their own bags in the U.S., but Delta Air Lines and Air Canada also plan to implement the service. Internationally, self-service bag tagging is done at 35 airports.
The six-month trial by American will allow passengers to print and tag their own luggage without direct supervision by an airline employee. Ticket agents will still check passenger IDs, scan luggage tags, and place bags on the conveyor belt to be scanned by the Transportation Security Administration.
American hopes this will speed up the check-in process, but currently is not requiring passengers to use the new service.
3. Groupe Aeroplan's UK loyalty program signs easyJet as airline partner
MONTREAL - Groupe Aeroplan's (TSX:AER) UK Nectar loyalty program has signed one of Britain's biggest airlines as its partner beginning the end of March.
Nectar members will be able to redeem their points for seats or combine them with cash payments on easyJet flights.
Aeroplan's Canadian program airline partner is Air Canada (TSX:AC.B).
"From our experience with the Canadian Aeroplan program, we know how incredibly valuable flight rewards are to loyalty program participants," said Aeroplan CEO Rupert Duchesne.
EasyJet flies to more than 550 destinations in 30 countries.
Aeroplan said nearly one million Nector members have enough points to redeem for flights to popular destinations such as Amsterdam, Spain's Malaga, or Nice in France.
It estimates that about 300,000 seats will be booked annually using Nectar points.
Grocery partner Sainsbury's will support the easyJet addition through in-store promotional activity as well as other direct marketing initiatives.
Martin Landry of Desjardins Securities said adding an air travel redemption partner won't add direct revenues for Aeroplan but is key to keeping members engaged in the program.
About 75 per cent of miles redeemed in Canada are for air rewards, highlighting the importance of an airline redemption partner.
"With this partnership, Nectar UK fills an important redemption vertical that will enable it to strengthen its leadership position in the U.K.'s loyalty coalition market," he wrote in a report.
Landry said it remains to be seen whether the agreement will translate into an accumulation partnership since easyJet's low-cost business model makes it less conducive to join a full-fledged loyalty program, such as Nectar.
The 17 million Nectar members represent an attractive customer base for the airline given the intense competition among European carriers, he added.
"This partnership is a good first step in strengthening the ties between both companies."
The global loyalty business is expected to reach $100 billion by 2015.
Landry said Aeroplan, as a worldwide leader, is "well-positioned to leverage its strengths to gain market share in this expanding industry."
On the Toronto Stock Exchange, its shares were down six cents at $12.69 in midday trading Monday.
4. Eagle Offers Two Daily Nonstops Beginning July 2
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FORT WORTH, Texas, March 14, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, will fly two daily round-trip flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina, beginning July 2. The new service will be operated with 44-seat Embraer jets.
"We're delighted to serve the Wilmington area from our cornerstone hub in Chicago," said Gary Foss, Vice President – Planning and Marketing for American's regional network. "Now, it will be easier for Wilmington residents to access the United States and the world through American's gateway at O'Hare International Airport. Likewise, the Chicago connection will make Wilmington's many historic sites – and its white sand beaches – easily accessible through one of American's largest hubs, offering convenient connections throughout the oneworld® global network."
"I'm excited that American Airlines has announced nonstop service from Wilmington to Chicago's O'Hare airport, seven days a week with two flights a day," said Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo. "This will provide an opportunity for our community to access one of the top six destinations in the country and help our business travelers reach this Midwestern destination. This will also allow people from the Midwest an easy opportunity to visit and experience our great community and southern hospitality."
"This is great news for our flying public and, in particular, our business travelers flying nonstop into a new major market," said Jonathan Barfield, Chairman of the New Hanover County (N.C.) Commissioners. "I know our community will be ecstatic and we believe this air service will be very successful."
By
Neha Jain
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