Jim Bits: Air Canada Ready to Step in for WestJet, New Quebec PR and Cruise News

We're a long way from any potential pilots disruption for WestJet. But Air Canada is letting agents and fliers know that they can help if a strike were to take place.

The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) announced this week that it has issued a strike authorization vote to WestJet pilots, who are engaged in talks with the airline for a new contract.

WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims rightfully pointed out that a strike authorization vote doesn't mean a strike will occur. Instead, he noted that these kinds of moves are quite normal in negotiations.

"A strike authorization vote is a common step by unions in context of the overall labour negotiation process," Sims said. "We remain focused on successfully negotiating an agreement that will benefit our pilots and WestJet."

WestJet Vice President Lyell Farquharson put out a reassuring statement late Thursday, saying much the same thing.

"I understand this development seems worrying, and we are taking it very seriously, but strike mandates are a relatively common collective bargaining strategy and do not mean that a strike will take place, " he said. "Our President and CEO, Ed Sims, is committed to negotiating a successful agreement with ALPA and I can assure you that our flight operations continue uninterrupted.

"We remain focused on working with ALPA and continuing the momentum we have achieved through the bargaining process, which is scheduled to continue in April, May and June. We are confident we will reach a successful conclusion."

Still, Air Canada was quick to jump into the fray, issuing a press release Thursday morning that basically said they're standing by in case WestJet passengers run into problems.

Air Canada officials said they're read to adjust their schedules and capacity in order to "limit disruptions for the traveling public and to ensure that customers get to their destinations in the event of a labour disruption at WestJet.

"We know that people travel for a variety of reasons and as the busy summer period approaches, we appreciate that the traveling public may be feeling anxious about their plans resulting from the uncertainty associated with potential labour disruptions at WestJet. With our extensive network and varied fleet, we are well placed to accommodate passengers disrupted by this situation.

The travelling public can book Air Canada with confidence at www.aircanada.com or by calling their travel agents."

WestJet was in the headlines this week for a couple other reasons.

WestJet Encore announced it has been named a winner in the Bombardier Commercial Aircraft's 2017 Airline Reliability Performance awards. The Airline Reliability Awards recognize operators of Bombardier's Q-Series turboprops and CRJ regional jets that have achieved at least 99 per cent dispatch reliability throughout the year.

"To be awarded a Bombardier 2017 Airline Reliability Performance award is a fantastic recognition of work the WestJet Encore team does to get more than 250 daily flights out safely and on time every day," said Charles Duncan, President, WestJet Encore, and Executive Vice-President, WestJet. "WestJet Encore has almost five years of solid operational performance under its belt and I am extremely proud of the hard work of our team. We will continue to focus on being Canada's most reliable regional airline to best meet the needs of our guests."

Earlier in the week, WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims was quoted in a CBC story as saying that he sees "no limit" to the international opportunities for the airline. He also said WestJet is looking at growing in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Fever Pitch Marketing Communications is pleased to announce that they will now represent the Quebec Original brand to media in the Canadian market. This announcement comes after a formal RFP process that selected the agency in March 2018.

Fever Pitch will work closely with the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec, which has the mandate of promoting and marketing the Quebec tourist destination in markets outside the province, and with its partners across the province. Fever Pitch's mandate will focus on travel media relations strategy for the Canadian market, sharing news from the destination, planning press visits for media and influencers to experience Quebec, and organizing media events in key markets.

"We are thrilled to have the Fever Pitch team on board as our Canadian PR agency," said Isabelle Cyr, Senior Manager, Media Relations, for the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec. "Fever Pitch was the best candidate thanks to their experience and proven results in the market, and we know they will do an excellent job promoting Quebec across Canada."

Fever Pitch's Emily Dunn will be the Account Manager for the Quebec mandate, with Wendy Underwood and Andrea Visscher also working on the account, particularly on projects related to British Columbia and Alberta. Fever Pitch will report directly to Emilie Nadeau, the newly appointed PR Manager - Americas for the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec. The Quebec Original Canadian media team can be reached via the contact details below.

Over the past year, expedition cruise operator, One Ocean Expeditions, has expanded its fleet, housing three vessels exclusively under its banner, to become one of the world's leading small-ship cruise operators. Following the launch of their brand-new program in Central America and the Islands of the North Atlantic, OOE has now announced the release of their spectacular summer 2019 Canada's East Coast, Canadian Arctic & Greenland and Spitsbergen voyages.

Summer 2019 will see OOE's new vessel, RCGS Resolute, embark on its inaugural northern voyages, taking guests to Canada's East Coast and the Canadian Arctic & Greenland in style. The superior level of comfort and capability offered by RCGS Resolute means that guests will not only experience the highest standard of on board programming and expedition style cruising that OOE is best known for, but they can do so whilst enjoying exceedingly comfortable cabins on a vessel purpose built for passenger travel.

Beginning in July 2019 in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, RCGS Resolute will carry guests through Canada's magnificent East Coast on OOE's popular Fins & Fiddles voyages, to explore the colourful fishing ports, lively music, rich history and incredible wildlife of this spectacular region. While on board, guests will have the opportunity to zodiac cruise, sea kayak, SUP, hike and cycle, whilst experiencing OOE's 1:4 staff-to-guest ratio and unparalleled personalized attention.

RCGS Resolute will continue north during August and September 2019 to offer some of OOE's most iconic itineraries including Labrador and Torngat Mountains National Park, followed by Canadian Arctic voyages to Baffin Island, Greenland and through the Northwest Passage to Cambridge Bay. With stability and style, RCGS Resolute offers guests the chance to experience the magic of these regions, along with unsurpassed access to its rugged coastline throughout these 10 and 12-night voyages.

For more information, visit www.oneoceanexpeditions.com

Goway is offering 2018 rates for 2019 passengers on the beautiful Belmond Grand Hibernian. The tour offers three different tours that let passengers take in the landscape and legends, all while experiencing the most luxurious rail travel in Ireland. Travel in 2019 and pay the 2018 price when you book by May 31, 2018.

"This product fits perfectly into the Goway range of luxury train offerings," said Craig Canvin, Goway's Vice President for Europe. "And for those wanting to experience several parts of Ireland in a short-time, in absolute comfort, this is the perfect solution."

Passengers can opt to travel from handsome Belfast to Waterford, and out to the west to see famous areas like Kerry and less famous treasures like Westport. The Grand Hibernian offers 16 twin and double cabins, including some that interconnect. All meals, beverages and touring are included in the rates, which means once guests are aboard they can sit back, relax, and truly enjoy the experience.

For more information on this and other Europe promotions email [email protected] or visit www.goway.com, or call 1-800-387-8850.

This summer is the perfect time for travellers to discover the timeless treasures of the Galápagos Islands aboard Silversea's award-wining Silver Galapagos luxury expedition ship. Travellers who book by May 31, 2018 can take advantage of an exclusive offer of free roundtrip economy air from select U.S. and Canadian gateways for travel to Ecuador, on voyages departing between July 7 and Dec. 15, 2018. Additionally, on Galápagos sailings departing in the same period, travellers under the age of 18 can save $500 USD with the 'Expedition Family Savings' offer.

For Galápagos voyages not covered by the free air promotion, a special $299 US ($399 CAD) roundtrip economy air offer is also available from select U.S. and Canadian gateways for travel to Ecuador when booked by May 31, 2018.

The exclusive promotions enhance an already value-rich proposition, as the all-inclusive package fares for the Galápagos voyages include virtually everything, such as roundtrip airfare between Ecuador and the Galápagos, pre- and post-cruise hotels, transfers and all park and porterage fees.

"The Galápagos Islands are a nature lover's dream, and we are pleased to offer these special incentives to help make this dream a reality for travelers during a year that is very special for us, as 2018 marks our 10th anniversary providing luxury expedition cruises," said Barbara Muckermann, Silversea's chief marketing officer.

The refined, 100-guest Silver Galapagos operates two distinct seven-day itineraries: departing Saturdays from Baltra or San Cristóbal, each reveals the Galápagos' outstanding value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- from the archipelago's rich marine ecosystem and pristine landscape, dotted with ongoing volcanic activity, to the amazing animal life, such as giant tortoises, land iguanas, Darwin's famous finches, and much more.

Speaking of boosting tourism to Canada (or perhaps helping boost US visits by Canadians), the inaugural flight of a new seaplane service between Vancouver and Seattle took place this week.

The new flights will go from downtown Vancouver to downtown Seattle, thus avoiding clogged highways and trips in and out of major airports.

The Washington state governor, Canada's minister of innovation, the mayor of Vancouver, the head of Microsoft and the leader of Seattle's chamber of commerce all spoke in Seattle after Wednesday's hour-long flight from Vancouver, playing up how the flights should help the tech sectors in both ciities.

"This new service underlines the potential that is possible between the two countries," said Canada's Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, who referred to the service as the "Nerd Bird" in reference to the cities' growing tech centres. "We are in a global international race, but we're not competing, we're working together."

The Vancouver Sun reports that the twice-daily flights will be run by Vancouver's Harbour Air and Seattle's Kenmore Air. But it's definitely a case of buyer beware: tickets are priced at $370 CAD one-way.

For something a little more affordable, note that Eurostar's new high-speed rail service from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam has officially launched. Tickets for as little as $62 CAD one-way are available this summer.

Eurostar officials say the train is far more convenient and comfortable than flying between London and Holland, and that trains emit 80 per cent less carbon per passenger than the equivalent flight.

Amsterdam is a city almost everyone knows, but Rotterdam has a ton of great things to see, as well. The markets are wonderful and the old part of town has a great deal of charm.