As 2023 draws to a close, there's a slew of new U.K. and European routes launching in December and the not-so-distant future of 2024.
14.11.2023 - 20:19 / insider.com / Air Canada
Air Canada — which is now facing accusations of mistreating disabled passengers — once left the wheelchair of Canada's top accessibility officer behind on a cross-country flight.
"Well. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto," Stephanie Cadieux posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, late last month. "I'm now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I'm furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights"
Well. @AirCanada left my chair in Toronto. I’m now without my essential equipment. Independence taken away. I’m furious. Unacceptable. #RightsOnFlights pic.twitter.com/h1WPUwlgxw
She later wrote in a LinkedIn post that the experience was "immensely frustrating and dehumanizing."
"My job title as Chief Accessibility Officer should not influence the experience I have when I fly," she wrote. "Every person with a disability who entrusts their wheelchair to an airline should expect and be granted the same service. We are all customers."
Air Canada said in a statement to Canadian news outlet CBC that it apologized to Cadieux and recognizes that "mobility devices are vital to their users."
The airline has since faced a slew of other allegations.
An undercover investigation by CBC revealed that in one instance, a flight crew disconnected a disabled passenger's ventilator and dropped a mobility lift on her head.
In late August, a man who uses a wheelchair had to drag himself off the plane after Air Canada crewmembers refused to assist him, he and his wife alleged.
And in September, a man died after he suffered a medical emergency during a flight and the pilot and crew ignored his daughter's pleas to land the plane so she could get her father to a hospital.
When reached for comment, an Air Canada spokesperson pointed Insider to a November 9 statement laying out a series of measures the airline says it will take to improve the experiences of customers with disabilities.
"Air Canada recognizes the challenges customers with disabilities encounter when they fly and accepts its responsibility to provide convenient and consistent service so that flying with us becomes easier. Sometimes we do not meet this commitment, for which we offer a sincere apology," Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said. "As our customers with disabilities tell us, the most important thing is that we continuously improve in the future. We are listening to them and today we are committing to do better and demonstrating that commitment with concrete actions."
As 2023 draws to a close, there's a slew of new U.K. and European routes launching in December and the not-so-distant future of 2024.
Jamaica shared company with New Zealand, Costa Rica and Cyprus as it middled the 2023 Global Law and Order Report by respected Washington DC, United States based international analytics firm, Gallup, Inc.
It’s not a merger, but Air Transat and Porter Airlines plan a new joint venture that would allow the Canadian companies to join forces to grab a larger marketshare.
Montréal has long been renowned for its gorgeous architecture and charming downtown district, and in the modern era, this storied Canadian city is developing one of the most impressive cocktail scenes in all the nation. While visitors can stumble upon a wealth of polished lounges and cozy speakeasies during a stroll across Old Montréal, the 2023 North America’s 50 Best Bars list has shined a light on specific destinations like Atwater Cocktail Club and Cloakroom—and while the city may not be known worldwide for its stellar cocktail scene, this designation comes as no surprise to local industry professionals.
New hotel offers a premium experience for blended travellers.
Among the provinces and territories, Nova Scotia recorded the highest October occupancy level (75.0%), which was 6.3% below 2022.
In addition to the survey, the white paper is being created following interviews and round table discussions with experts from the association and AI sectors. The full white paper will cover these topics in more detail, explore particular areas of concern for the industry and question whether the sector is upskilling quickly enough to meet the growing usage of AI as a technology.
First time drop-in SAF is used on an A380 with full compatibility across the aircraft’s existing system.
Initial requirement of up to 200 crew colleagues for 2024. Start of flight operations in summer 2024 with Airbus A319 aircraft.
Brett Eldredge is getting in the holiday spirit during the Nashville leg of his tour and is hoping fans will join in thanks to a special hotel package hosted by the city's 1 Hotel.
Airfare to popular international leisure destinations should cost less this winter and next summer than a year ago as carriers add capacity, the CEO of Canada’s WestJet Airlines told Reuters on Wednesday.
Qantas has unveiled the livery of its first QantasLink Airbus A220, which will be the sixth aircraft to feature in its Flying Art Series when it comes into service as part of the group’s domestic fleet renewal program.