Latest news with #AlexisvonHoensbroech
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Airline traffic in Canada is up — just not to the United States
Article content Traffic was up for both domestic and international flights at Canada's largest airports in April, with the exception of trips to the United States, according to Statistics Canada's monthly data on air passenger travel. Article content Trans-border traffic to the U.S. dropped for the third month in a row to 1.1 millon, 5.8 per cent lower than in April 2024. Statistics Canada said trans-border passenger counts were also significantly lower (down 12.5 per cent) than the pre-pandemic level recorded in April 2019. Article content Article content Outside of the U.S., however, the number of Canadians travelling internationally by air was 1.4 million in April — up 7.1 per cent over the same month in 2024, and sharply higher (up 19 per cent) than the pre-pandemic level posted in April 2019. Article content Meanwhile, Canadians are also choosing to travel within the country. Domestic passenger traffic was up by 7.4 per cent to two million in April compared to the previous year. This modestly surpasses the 2019 pre-pandemic level by 1.5 per cent, said StatCan. Article content Canada's eight largest airports, which includes Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International and Vancouver International, posted higher volumes of passenger traffic year over year in April. Article content Article content Overall, 4.5 million passengers were screened at the eight airports, up 3.6 per cent over 2024 and up 1.9 per cent over 2019. Article content Article content Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International posted the largest year-over-year increase, at 8.6 per cent. Article content The decline in trans-border travel as Canadians forgo visits to the United States led major airline Air Canada to lower its financial forecast for the year. Article content And in late May, WestJet Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, speaking at a Calgary Chamber of Commerce event, said summer bookings were down by the 'mid-to-high teens' (percentage wise) from the same period last year.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Airline traffic in Canada is up — just not to the United States
Traffic was up for both domestic and international flights at Canada's largest airports in April, with the exception of trips to the United States, according to Statistics Canada's monthly data on air passenger travel. Trans-border traffic to the U.S. dropped for the third month in a row to 1.1 millon, 5.8 per cent lower than in April 2024. Statistics Canada said trans-border passenger counts were also significantly lower (down 12.5 per cent) than the pre-pandemic level recorded in April 2019. Passengers travelling to the U.S. accounted for 25.5 per cent of the total number of screened passengers in April, down from the 28.1 per cent recorded in 2024. For the third straight month, all four of the largest airports recorded year-over-year decreases in screened passenger counts for flights to the United States. Outside of the U.S., however, the number of Canadians travelling internationally by air was 1.4 million in April — up 7.1 per cent over the same month in 2024, and sharply higher (up 19 per cent) than the pre-pandemic level posted in April 2019. Meanwhile, Canadians are also choosing to travel within the country. Domestic passenger traffic was up by 7.4 per cent to two million in April compared to the previous year. This modestly surpasses the 2019 pre-pandemic level by 1.5 per cent, said StatCan. Canada's eight largest airports, which includes Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International and Vancouver International, posted higher volumes of passenger traffic year over year in April. Overall, 4.5 million passengers were screened at the eight airports, up 3.6 per cent over 2024 and up 1.9 per cent over 2019. Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International posted the largest year-over-year increase, at 8.6 per cent. The decline in trans-border travel as Canadians forgo visits to the United States led major airline Air Canada to lower its financial forecast for the year. Early last month, Air Canada chief executive Michael Rousseau said the noise around tariffs and trade disputes 'definitely had an impact' on the widely reported decline in interest among Canadians for travel to the U.S. And in late May, WestJet Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, speaking at a Calgary Chamber of Commerce event, said summer bookings were down by the 'mid-to-high teens' (percentage wise) from the same period last year. 'When all the rhetoric started around 51st state and tariffs and so on, we could see in our bookings how angry Canadians became,' he said. Preliminary April data released by Statcan last month showed that Canadians' air travel to and from the U.S. had dropped 19.9 per cent from 2024, while return trips via land were down 35.2 per cent. Air Canada lowers 2025 outlook as U.S. travel declines Canadians' return travel from U.S. plunges as Trump tariffs hit By the end of April, combined return trips from the U.S. (via air and road) had fallen 22 per cent from a year ago. • Email: dpaglinawan@
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lower airline costs will foster national unity, WestJet CEO says
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech is calling for the federal government to reduce costs imposed on Canada's airline industry, adding that air travel should not be treated as a luxury in a country as big as Canada. Nivrita Ganguly has more on this and other top business stories in Business Matters for Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
WestJet Group completes integration of Sunwing Airlines, successfully unifying all narrowbody operations under WestJet Airlines Français
CALGARY, AB, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Today marks a significant milestone for the WestJet Group, as the airline officially completes its integration of Sunwing Airlines. This achievement represents two years (to the month) of dedicated work, strategic coordination and consultation, and a commitment to delivering greater value and connectivity for Canadian travellers. "Completing two airline consolidations in just two years—the first with Swoop in 2024 and now Sunwing—was complex and required coordination across every aspect of our business, from operational, labour, and regulatory areas to experiential and cultural elements," says Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of the WestJet Group. "Achieving this milestone is proof of the incredible way our unified team works together and is a clear win for WestJet and our guests; it's also a story of transformation in Canadian aviation. A huge thanks to everyone who contributed!" WestJet acquired Sunwing in May 2023, the first step of many in bringing together two distinctly Canadian travel and tourism success stories, as part of WestJet's ambition to be the leader in providing affordable and accessible sun and leisure travel for Canadians. The vision to integrate Sunwing Airlines, realized on May 29, 2025, is part of the airline's strategy to deliver new and competitive travel options, and greater overall value for Canadians in sun and leisure market, while strengthening Canada's travel industry at a critical time. WestJet has now integrated all jet aircraft under a single Air Operator Certificate (AOC), including 16 former Swoop aircraft, another nine former Lynx Air aircraft which were secured after that airline went out of business, and now 18 more from Sunwing Airlines. WestJet's unified narrowbody operation will begin to realize efficiencies once it transforms these aircraft with cabin reconfigurations to the WestJet standard interior being completed through 2025. The result of this integration will be a consistent onboard experience for guests, with a more diverse range of onboard product offerings, including Premium, Economy, Extended Comfort, and UltraBasic seating available on all 150 Boeing 737 aircraft across the airline. WestJet's concept for expanding cabin optionality will serve the evolving needs of Canadian travellers who appreciate the ability to choose between a range of products and price points, without compromising on network. Additionally, guests flying on WestJet with reservations through the Sunwing Vacations brand, which continues to exist as Canada's post popular vacations provider, or its wholly owned tour operator businesses, can expect an improved end-to-end travel experience, as Canada's leading vacations provider continues to streamline processes and booking flows with guests in mind. "The final Sunwing-operated flight this week is a time to reflect," von Hoensbroech notes, recognizing that Sunwing has played an important and influential role in the Canadian leisure travel market. "I know every Sunwing employee, past and present feels their contributions have mattered to advancing the experience of air travel. To all WestJetters and former Sunwing team members: thank you. This milestone is your achievement, and a proud moment for us all." About WestJet WestJet took to the skies in 1996 with just over 200 employees and three aircraft operating service to five destinations. Since then, WestJet has pioneered low-cost travel in Canada, cutting airfares in half, and increasing the flying population in Canada by more than 50 per cent. Following integration with Sunwing in 2025, more than 14,000 WestJetters support nearly 200 aircraft and connect guests to more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. As a major Canadian employer that includes WestJet Airlines, Sunwing Vacations Group and WestJet Cargo, the WestJet Group is Canada's leading low-cost airline and largest vacation provider, with a united purpose of providing affordable and accessible air and vacation travel to Canadians. Learn more about WestJet at (also available in French)
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WestJet CEO says it's 'fundamentally wrong' to treat air travel as a luxury
CALGARY — The chief executive of WestJet Group says the federal government should not treat air travel as a luxury in a country as vast as Canada and reducing costs to the industry would help foster national unity. In a speech to a Calgary business audience, Alexis von Hoensbroech questioned why transport infrastructure like bridges, passenger rail and ferries get federal support, while the government imposes a host of costs on the airline industry that are then passed along to consumers. He says it's "fundamentally wrong" that air travel is not treated as essential in a country where it's the only connection to the outside world in many communities. Von Hoensbroech's remarks follow calls from several business leaders in recent months to reduce internal trade barriers and expand Canada's international reach as the U.S. becomes an increasingly unreliable trading partner. He says bookings into the next couple of months suggest Canadians' cross-border travel on the airline is down in the "mid-to-high-teens percentage points" compared to last year, but that traffic is shifting to Europe and the Caribbean. The CEO says demand changes driven by politics are usually short-lived and he's already seeing signs the U.S. market is picking up a bit. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025. Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
