IN PERSON Trade Support
He’s been with Air Canada for over 30 years and has seen much of the country, but The Yukon and New Brunswick remain on Allan Owen’s ‘must see’ list. With Air Canada's 84 non-stop fl ights per week out of the UK this summer, he shouldn’t have a problem getting to either!
Allan Owen ALLAN OWEN
National & Specialist Sales Manager UK Air Canada Tel: 0871 220 3220 Email:
allan.owen@aircanada.ca
Provide us with a brief overview of your job role and main responsibilities I am responsible for agency sales for Air Canada in the UK as well as UK to Canada pricing for the Atlantic Joint Venture. I have worked at Air Canada for 32 years and held roles in a variety of departments including check-in, baggage- handling, reservations and my current position in sales.
How did you land your first role with Air Canada? When I was 18, I saw an advert for a ‘mail and file clerk’ in Skyport, the local airport newspaper, applied for the job and got it! I have been with the company ever since and have had many opportunities to develop and progress in a wide range of disciplines.
How important is the UK travel trade to the airline’s sales? The travel trade is important and opens the door to a large customer base. It accounts for a high percentage of our UK sales.
"We have to ensure that we keep our prices competitive and always provide our customers with value for
money... we continually monitor our competition and are sensitive to local market conditions"
How does Air Canada help agents? It is our job to consistently offer quality products and services at competitive prices for agents. We maintain an open dialogue and work together to ensure that we successfully meet the demands of the UK marketplace.
Bring us up to date with Air Canada's latest service and product news We offer more daily flights from the UK to Canada than any other airline. This summer we will operate 84 non-stop
flights per week to eight major Canadian cities. And commencing June 2, 2012, we will increase the number of daily services from London Heathrow to our Toronto hub from four to five non-stop flights each day. In addition to five flights per day from London Heathrow to Toronto Pearson International Airport, we will offer daily non-stop services from the UK to seven other major Canadian cities including Montréal, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax and St John’s. We also plan to reintroduce our non-
stop service between Dublin and Toronto this summer, operating up to seven flights a week from June 8, 2012.
What are your biggest challenges to increasing business right now? We have to ensure that we keep our prices competitive and always provide our customers with value for money. We continually monitor our competition and are sensitive to local market conditions.
Do you have a favourite place or destination in Canada? Having working for Air Canada for over three decades I have had the good fortune to visit many special places.
Across Canada you can find exciting cities, spectacular landscapes, world-class outdoor sports, great food and of course, the famous Canadian hospitality. With so much on offer, I find it difficult to name just one favourite.
Is there anywhere in Canada that is still on your wish list? Although I have been to many parts of Canada over the years, there are plenty of other destinations in the country I am yet to discover and still keen to see. The next places on my 'wish list' are the Yukon Territory and New Brunswick.
Firm favourites
Q Favourite Canadian activity? AO: It's the wilderness that really differentiates Canada from other countries. Coming from a small island like Britain the scale of Canada is almost incomprehensible! I have explored much of the great Canadian outdoors, but there's still plenty for me to do!
SELLING CANADA • SPRING 2012 19
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