Air Canada started out as Trans-Canada Airlines in September'37. The inaugural flight was a 50 minute flight on a Lockheed L-10A from Vancouver to Seattle, transporting mail and a total of two passengers. The airline grew rapidly and by the year'64, Trans-Canada Airlines had become the national airline for Canada. It was then that the name was changed to Air Canada. The airline was privatized in'89. Air Canada also bought Canadian Airlines International around that time.
Today, Air Canada is more than 70 years old, and is largest passenger-service airline in Canada. Every year, it carries nearly 32 million passengers to 170 places across the globe. Air Canada also ranks--th among the airlines, across the world.
Air Canada believes that travel should be convenient for its customers and therefore it is the only airline that offer flight passes. Flight passes allow the passenger to manage their travel online. These flight passes can be obtained either in the form of pre-purchased flight credits or a monthly subscription that provides you with unlimited flights in certain sectors.
Air Canada is indeed one of the world's best airlines. This is the feedback provided from, none other than the customers of Air Canada themselves. The airline was awarded with the title of the 'Best Airline in North America', after a survey carried out, from August 2006 and June 2007. It also received the Airline Industry Achievement Award in 2007, for being a leader amongst all airlines. Air Canada has many 'Best Airline in Canada and North America' titles in its kitty, ranked by the readers of diverse travel magazines.
While Air Canada works hard to keep their passengers happy and satisfied, they work just as hard to do their bit for preserving the environment. They have already started this process by spending billions and investing in new aircrafts that are energy efficient. Air Canada has managed to reduce the emission intensity of their flights by 28%. They also have an ambitious target of improving their fuel efficiency by 25% by the year 2020.
Air Canada also has initiated various green in-house and recycling programs. They have joined hands with a fascinating program, known as 'zerofootprint'. This program lets the customers to willingly counterbalance the carbon emissions caused due to the flights they have taken, by taking part in the reforestation program in the nation.
Although Air Canada is one of the world's largest airlines, it still needs the help of other airlines to provide its passengers with a suitably extensive network of destinations.
Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica?s leading Flight comparison & Booking portal, which includes Alitalia Airlines amongst others.
Tags:
africa,
airlines,
aviation,
cheap flights,
flights,
leisure,
South Africa,
tourism,
Travel
July 23 2010 | Travel | No Comments »
Planning a trip to London? Find great deals on hotels and flights, as well as advice on the best sights in the city, all with the click of a mouse. Best of all, by taking advantage of online deals, you will have more money to do the things you love on your trip!
Planning trips abroad used to be so difficult you almost couldn't do it without a travel agent. You just couldn't get the information you needed. Sometimes it can cost you more than you realized in higher airfares and hotel commissions. Yes, you actually paid for the luxury of having someone else plan your trip. Today, you can still leave it to a travel agent if you like or you can do it yourself by browsing any number of websites. You can compare airfares, hotel rates; you can even find discounted rates on the wonderful activities.
You can plan your whole trip online from your door and back again. You can book your airline tickets, transportation to and from your accommodations; you can even make restaurant reservations. There are even websites that offer everything in packaged tours including discounted air travel, airport transfers, hotel stays and activity tickets.
If you are a parent there is no better way to get kids excited about travel than to let them participate in the planning process. Allow them to research and make choices about some of the family's itinerary. They may even surprise you in their ability to help find deals and ferret out interesting activities the whole family can enjoy.
London is rich in cultural and historic activities. It won't be hard to choose which museums and famous icons (Big Ben) to visit. But do you want to miss those less-famous places and events that only the locals know about? The internet is the perfect tool to find out-of-the-way shops and festivals. You can even book travel between London and some of Great Britain's other lovely historic cities and villages.
Always be sure to pack for the transportation you are willing to hire. If you travel in Europe, this will mean packing to travel on a bus or taxi. A bus will only have space for a small bag, and with a taxi, everything must fit in the trunk, or you may have to hire another car. Be mindful of the volume of luggage especially if you are travelling in a group, which can make getting to and from the airport still more complicated.
Airline fares are very low right now. This has made it more affordable to travel to Europe for many families and couples and taking advantage of it online is easy. All the attractions London has to offer are more than enough to make anyone want to explore it right now. Anyone can and for a very low price. Book your travel online and use the money you save on airfare to delight in that famous restaurant or to take a tour of a famous winery all the while savoring the ambiance of one of the great cities of the world, London.
Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica's leading Flight Comparison portal, to book a flight, simply visit our website at: http://www.saflights.co.za
Tags:
africa,
airlines,
flight comparison,
flights,
leisure,
tourism,
Travel
February 10 2010 | Travel | No Comments »
When you are planning a trip to Europe you will want to explore many parts of the country and cheap flights are a main concern. You want to save time in getting from one place to the next and, save money. The low cost fares to Europe are abundant due to the fare wars from many airlines and travelers can take advantage of the best rates by searching online for the best rates.
Before widespread use of the Internet, the one and only way to obtain flight information and purchase plane tickets was through a travel agent. The agent had knowledge the average traveler did not in regards to which airline was offering discount tickets, which was cheapest at what times of the year, etc.
As a response, travel agencies are now starting to move more of their business activity onto the Internet. In order to stay competitive, some travel agencies have their own websites, where they can advertise special deals. This means that it is easier for travelers to be able to access these deals and do a side-by-side comparison with other specials that may be available online. In some cases, to avoid fees, travelers can also book their fares directly from airlines.
If you are looking for a flight to Paris or Milan you will find it on the internet and you can easily browse the sites to compare who has the cheapest flight. You are able to search by nonstop flights, make preferences on seating and even choose your on flight meals when booking online with most companies or airlines. You are given the convenience to pay by credit card and receive confirmations and even have the tickets mailed to you if you do not want to use the airlines kiosk for check in.
Trip planner websites are the most popular with internet travelers. These sites allow you to find your hotel, flight and even rental car while booking your trip. You can create a whole vacation package by adding on any activities you will be interested in and receiving a discounted ticket price by purchasing them before arriving. You can sort trips by price, date and even class. The trip can be easily compared to other sites offering the similar packages online.
A new phenomenon of bidding sites have emerged and now it is possible to book trips to Europe ' by using auction sites, the traveler has more flexibility to set the price. The way it works it that travelers can bid on a trip and the winning bidder just has to add the appropriate taxes and fees. Keep in mind that you may not win everything that you bid on and there may be some date limitations but when it works out, it can be a great deal. Make sure to do your research ahead of time so that you're not caught in a bidding war.
Lastly, you can also purchase a ticket directly through an airline. Some customers like to do this directly through the airline but because there are so many more airlines now, it may take some time to research all of the different airlines, sites to find the lowest fares. Also remember that some airlines do not offer the same packages of discounts that travel planning sites offer.
Graham McKenzie is webmaster for South Africa's leading Flight Comparison portal, to book a flight, simply visit our website at: http://www.saflights.co.za
Tags:
africa,
airlines,
flight comparison,
flights,
leisure,
tourism,
Travel
January 05 2010 | Travel | No Comments »
by Tom Martens
South African Airways, established in 1934, is South Africa's largest domestic and international airline. SAA was one of the first national airlines in the world.Modern day SAA has hubs in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It is owned by Transnet, a public transport company. Two percent of the stocks are held by SAA's 9,000 employees.
Employees receive intensive advanced training programs to help SAA maintain its reputation for excellent customer service. It serves 31 cities in 25 countries, carrying more than 7 million passengers per year. Recently a member of the exclusive Star Alliance, the connection vastly extended the number of destinations SAA flies to. Skytrax, the British experts on aviation ratings, declares SAA one of the best international airlines in terms of products offered and service standards.
One of the top airlines in the business is the SAA. The SAA, or Suid-Afriaanse Lugdiens in Afrikaans, is always ranked as the top performer, safest and money making airline. There are also many other catagories in which they rank high.
The first cities served in 1934 were Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Flights to Kenya, Uganda and British East Africa signaled SAA's entrance into the international market. The airline was essentially shut down during WWII, but in 1945, SAA achieved a long-time goal by opening its route to Europe with its first flight to Bournemouth.
SAA introduced the Boeing 707 to its fleet in the 1950's jet age. SAA was the first airline other than the UK to operate a pure jetliner flight. SAA jets started flying non-stop to the UK and other European cities only two years later. The airline began flights to New York in 1969. Now the fleet of SAA includes some 50 aircraft.
SAA's loyalty program, Voyager, has nearly 2 million members. Members can earn airmiles on SAA as well as for flights with their partner airlines and Star Alliance members. SAA backs up its commitment to customer service by investing millions each year on in-flight entertainment. Passengers may choose from more than a dozen movie channels, video games, music and travel information.
Business and first-class passengers are pampered even more. Business class offers the best business flat bed seats in the industry, according to Skytrax. They can also enjoy the Boabab Lounge at Johannesburg, which offers workstations complete with computers, faxes and printers. SAAs Cyclad Premium Lounge in Johannesburg was voted the third best in the world in a Skytrax survey in 2002.
South African Airways offers lots of great features in their first class cabins. The beds could well be the widest in the industy, being 29 inches wide. They lie flat at 180 degress. Each seat has an ottoman that can be controlled electronically. There are also big, private televisions with on-demand audio and video. So kick back in those comfy seats and enjoy a show!
Business class travelers enjoy most comforts during their travel. Starting from the fully adjustable seats with an adjustable headrest and pneumatic lumbar support to the large private television screens with the audio-video-on-demand.
In economy class, passengers may choose from two main courses accompanied by fine South African Wines while they also enjoy private televisions with audio-video-on-demand.
The main priority for SAA is the safety of the passengers and it is clearly visible through its largest maintenance facility in Africa. Apart from handling its maintenance, SAA also offers maintenance services to British airways and air france.
About the Author:
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica's leading
Flight comparison portal, which includes
SAA amongst others.
Tags:
africa,
Air Tickets,
air travel,
aviation,
Comparison Shopping,
Flight Comparison Shopping,
flights,
South Africa,
tourism,
transport,
Travel
May 11 2009 | Travel | No Comments »
by Lionel Goldie
The continent of Africa has reminded everybody of a huge and mysterious place. If you think that way, then taking a luxury safari in Tanzania and Kenya might be on the docket for you. In a safari of this kind, you're given the best opportunities for wildlife and nature viewing across the varied landscapes and environments that both countries have to offer. And given the pace of change in the world, see it soon.
How do you go on a safari? Safari, in the Swahili language, means "travel." Safaris are not hard to either go on or to get to, if you're of a mind to do so. Real safaris introduce you to a vast array of nature, people and game areas teeming with every sort of African species in both of the two countries. What's marvellous is that you safari throughout the day, and then retire to a luxurious in-park or nearby safari lodge which caters to your every whim.
Where do you "safari" nowadays. Both Tanzania and Kenya have huge, pristine tracts of land available for touring. All are stocked with abundant levels of wildlife, and the variety in the local culture is a thing to behold. For example, Tanzania's famous National Parks - which are located in Northern Tanzania - should be seen at least once in a lifetime. And who hasn't heard of the fabulous Serengeti Plain in a host of nature programs and not wanted to see it?
Kenya is also loaded with luxury safari opportunities. Safari activity in Kenya began way back in the European colonial days, when Kenya was part of the British Empire. Nowadays, luxury travel through Kenya has never been easier or more accessible. Safari through the day - into the Serengeti National Park, for example - and then retire in the evening to any one of several luxury lodges spread around the area. All of them can be had as a single luxury package, too.
Sightsee through both countries. If you'd like, you can combine Tanzania and Kenya into one single sightseeing opportunity. Most tour companies on the market today can offer a number of different luxury safari and travel packages that take you through all the wonders both countries have to offer. Luxury lodges and other accommodations are part of each package. Both countries will include day trips to several unique wildlife or natural resource areas and destinations. A particularly beautiful site is the Lake Nakuru National Park. You start your safari in Nairobi, Kenya and then travel through the dramatic Rift Valley region. In the evening, you're comforted by the amenities at any one of several luxury lodges.
You can't go wrong in a private reserve. There are a number of them in both countries. And your wildlife and safari opportunities are even better. Plus, there are many fine lodges within the reserves, and all are right in prime wildlife locations.
Contact your luxury travel agency. There are a number of agencies specializing in luxury safaris in Tanzania and Kenya. Check with them for seasonal rates and discounts, as they can vary by the week or the month.
There are some of the best luxury safari activities available, when it comes to Tanzania and Kenya. This type of travel is truly the way to see and enjoy all the natural wonders the Dark Continent has to offer.
About the Author:
For one of the most incredibleexperiences of your entire life you should try
luxury safaris. The site has some of the best luxury lodges in Kenya and Tanzania and features anything from 3 to 10 night safari packages. All the
luxury Kenya safaris are completely ABTA protected.
Tags:
africa,
holidays,
Kenya,
leisure,
luxury safaris,
recreation,
Safaris,
tanzania,
tour operators,
Travel,
travel agents
March 25 2009 | Travel | No Comments »