Canadian charter airline SkyService shuts down

From the Globe and Mail:

"Skyservice Airlines has abruptly shut down, leaving tour operators that hired the charter carrier scrambling to find other planes for travellers.

Toronto-based Skyservice confirmed Wednesday that a receiver has been appointed to oversee the winding down of the debt-laden company.

The closing of Skyservice comes after Sunwing Travel Group, which has its own planes, merged recently with Signature Vacations. Industry insiders say Sunwing had held talks with Skyservice for an early cancellation of the charter airline's deal to continue flying on behalf of Signature until 2013."

Porter increases flights on Eastern Triangle

" Porter Airlines takes leading position with Toronto-Ottawa, Toronto-Montreal routes

Up to 46 Montreal, 38 Ottawa daily flights

TORONTO/March 18, 2010 – Porter Airlines is significantly expanding its service on the key Toronto-Montreal and Toronto-Ottawa Eastern Triangle routes, offering up to 84 combined daily flights.

Flights between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Montreal Trudeau Airport will grow to 46 daily trips from the current peak of 28. On the Toronto City Airport-Ottawa route, flight frequency increases to 38 daily trips from 34. The majority of flights will operate every 40 minutes on the Montreal route and every hour on the Ottawa route. These changes take full effect May 5.

“Porter now has more weekday flights on these two important routes than any other carrier,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “Business people enjoy travelling when the flight is convenient for their schedule and Porter gives them extensive choices with high frequency and flexibility.”

Source: Porter Press Release

Air Canada moving to Credit Card only cabins

Effective May 1, Air Canada (excluding Jazz) will be moving to credit card only cabins for all flights that offer On-Board Cafe or Duty-Free Boutique. Jazz will remain as Cash and meal voucher cabins.

Full details can be found on Air Canada' s website.

Porter Airlines set to launch service to Moncton

Starting on June 25, 2010, Porter Airlines will offer two flights per day for the summer season between Moncton and Ottawa with same plane service continuing to Toronto Island Airport. At the end of the summer season the flights will be reduced to once per day on Thursday and Fridays, plus two flights per day on Sundays.

Source: Porter

Virgin America plans to serve Toronto by June

If approved, Virgin America will start serving Toronto as early as June 2010 from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Subject to receipt of authority from the U.S. DOT, Virgin America would offer one flight per day from Toronto to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Toronto would be Virgin America's first International destination.

Should these routes be approved it gives Canadian's another frequent flyer option as Virgin America does have its own program called Elevate.

Source: Yahoo Finance

Marriott changing reward night levels at 20% of their hotels

As of this past Sunday (March 8) Marriott changed the points requirements for free nights at 20% of its Worldwide hotels. 300 of the hotels (roughly 9%) will increase by being moved up to a higher category level while 350 (11%) will decrease by being moved down to lower categories. Approximately 95% of the 650 hotels affected fall into the first 5 redemption categories.
Visit this thread on FlyerTalk.com to see a compiled list of the individual hotel changes

Source: Hotel Check-In

AIR MILES adds new airline partners

AIR MILES has added three new airlines for which you can redeem your AIR MILES Rewards Miles on.

The first is United Airlines, a Star Alliance carrier, US based United serves over 300 destinations in the U.S. and Hawaii. To celebrate the partnership, all AIR MILES bookings for United are 10% if booked by the end of March for travel until the end of the year
See here for more details

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have also joined AIR MILES and offer flights out of Alberta and B.C. to cities in the U.S., Hawaii and Mexico. It also looks like there is an introductory offer of 10% off reward flights for the rest of the year if booked by March 31

US Airways to launch Halifax-Philadelphia service

Beginning on June 1, US Airways will serve Halifax from their Philadelphia hub with 50 seat CRJ200's. The year round service will operate three times per day.

Philadelphia - Halifax               Halifax - Philadelphia
Flight   Departure   Arrival         Flight  Departure  Arrival
3608     9:40 a.m.   12:45 p.m.      3657    7:40 a.m.  8:56 a.m.*
3706     1:35 p.m.   4:33 p.m.       3623    1:15 p.m.  2:31 p.m.
3652     8:25 p.m.   11:25 p.m.      3707    5:00 p.m.  6:16 p.m.

Source: CanFlyer

US Airways to offer Ottawa-Charlotte service

US Airways will launch service between Ottawa and their hub at Charlotte on May 31, 10. The route will be flown with a CRJ200

Flight Timings:
Ottawa-Charlotte Dep 0750 Arr 1017
Charlotte-Ottawa Dep 2030 Arr 2253

Source: Airline Route Updates

Marriott matches Starwood with Free Internet for Elite Members

Starting on May 7, Marriott Gold and Platinum Elite members will have free Internet access at nearly 450 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The benefit will be available at Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott's and Renaissance Hotels. All other brands will continue to offer free Internet to all guests.

The move comes after Starwood Hotels announced that their elite SPG members would be receiving free Internet access.