this season
AVIATION PROFILE Air Transat
Canadian carrier Air Transat has responded to rising demand from Scotish travellers, increasing capacity on services from Glasgow by 12% this summer as it marks 25 years of servicing the airport. A year-long roster of celebrations is currently underway in Canada to mark the 150th anniversary of its confederation, culminating on 1 July. Its larger Airbus A330-200 and
A330-300 will operate on the five- times weekly Toronto and weekly Vancouver routes. “Scotish travellers are taking off
for Canada in record numbers this year, and we’re introducing larger aircraſt to cater for this,” said Lesley Kane, sales director, UK & Ireland of Air Transat. “2017 not only marks Canada’s 150th anniversary, but also a quarter of a century of Air Transat services from Glasgow, and we’re
delighted to be the carrier of choice for tens of thousands of Scots again this year.” This increase in demand could
help the company outrun its primary competitor, Air Canada Rouge, which launched a five-times weekly schedule to Toronto from Glasgow in the summer of 2016. As well as offering greater choice
on direct routes to Toronto and Vancouver, Air Transat’s increase in capacity will provide more opportunities to connect internally and visit other Canadian cities such as Montreal and
Calgary.The Montreal-based airline carries around three million passengers a year to 60 destinations across 26 countries. The airline serves the UK and Irish markets with flights between Canadian hubs and London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin.
airtransat.com
Heathrow to Barbados
Where are we going? To the Caribbean island of Barbados with Virgin Atlantic, which will launch the first direct route between London Heathrow and Grantley Adams International Airport, Bridgetown, on 12 December.
What are the details? The twice-weekly service, operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays, will run for the 2017-18 winter season using an Airbus A330. Branson’s carrier is looking to tempt those eyeing up Christmas in the Caribbean with fares starting from £649 return. Tickets went on sale on 25 February 2016. There will also be the option of connecting onto the route from Edinburgh or Aberdeen, thanks to the airline’s recently extended codeshare with Flybe.
Why? Shai Weiss, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “The Caribbean has always been a core market for Virgin Atlantic.” This winter, Virgin Atlantic will offer 11 Barbados flights per week from three UK airports — Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. It will be the sixth new service to be launched by the airline in 2017, with flights to Seattle, Varadero in Cuba, Boston, New York and San Francisco beginning this spring.
what’s new?
British Airways is cutting legroom for economy passengers on short-haul flights. It’s adding two more rows of seats to its Airbus aircraſt, reducing the gap from 30 to 29 inches.
britishairways.com
What’s in Barbados? Besides the heavenly beaches spread along its turquoise coast, Barbados — a Caribbean island with a British colonial twist — offers a characterful UNESCO-listed capital, historic rum distilleries and wild nightlife.
Who else flies there? British Airways also flies directly from Gatwick 12 times a week to Barbados.
countrybycountry.com | ABTA Magazine 17
NEW ROUTES
IMAGE: 4CORNERS
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