YOUR AIRPORT & SEA ISLAND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
SKYTALKONLINE.COM Airlines:
AUGUST 2014
Air Canada rouge announces new Vancouver–Palm Springs seasonal service
Edelweiss unveils cabin refurbishments PG
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Aviation Forecast:
Boeing forecasts demand for pilots/ technicians PG 8 Aviation History:
WWII Lancaster takes to the skies PG
Air Canada will introduce a new seasonal non-stop service operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, between Vancouver and Palm Springs, California this winter. Flights to the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ will be operated with Air Canada rouge Airbus A319 aircraft featuring three customer comfort options: rouge, rouge Plus with preferred seating offering additional legroom, and Premium
rouge with additional personal space and enhanced service. “We are pleased to add Palm Springs to our route network of winter holiday choices,” said Benjamin Smith, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Air Canada. “Offering world class golf, tennis, arts, culture, entertainment and shopping, Palm Springs joins Las Vegas and Phoenix as three of the top U.S. leisure desert playgrounds
served by Air Canada rouge this winter. Air Canada rouge is best suited to compete more cost effectively in these markets where there is both a high leisure travel demand and lowcost competition.” Air Canada rouge flights between Vancouver and Palm Springs, will begin December 18, 2014 and will operate three times weekly until April 12, 2015. See AC ROUGE page 2
YVR Flight Crew soars into B.C. communities
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Travel Talk:
YVR’s bleacher seats, dubbed the YVR Observation Deck, welcomed hundreds of thousands of pyrotechnic fans at the 2014 Vancouver Celebration of Light fireworks festival.
Puerto Vallarta remains a favoured destination PG 13 Restaurant Guide:
Breakfast, lunch, dinner PG 14
The YVR Flight Crew has been travelling all around B.C., getting to know the airport’s passengers and answering any and all question about YVR. Some highlights have included a watermelon-eating contest at Burkeville Daze, Bhangara dancing at the Fusion Festival and the Big Salmon BBQ at the July 1st Steveston Salmon Festival. Vancouver International Airport’s bleacher seats, dubbed YVR Observation Deck, welcomed hundreds of thousands of pyrotechnic fans at the 2014 Celebration of Light—an annual pyro-musical competition at
English Bay, Vancouver. The YVR Observation Deck offered fans a guaranteed seat for the best view of the fireworks in the city. Since 1990, the annual Celebration of Light has become one of the most prestigious fireworks competitions in the world, attracting the world’s best pyrotechnicians. This year’s Celebration of Light featured performances by teams from the United States, France and Japan. As part of the Celebration of Light, the YVR Flight Crew joined in on the festivities at Sunset Beach for ShoreFEST,
one of Vancouver’s biggest free community concert series. Festival goers stopped by the YVR booth and played the airport-themed game wheel for a chance to win two flights to a destination of their choice. YVR’s coveted aviator sunglasses were also given out to fans who connected through their social media channels. The YVR Flight Crew will be arriving at more summer festivals including the Richmond’s Raptor Festival and the Fair at the PNE. Check out the YVR summer festivals schedule on page 4 and at yvr.ca.
See our ad on page 9 * YVR is the international aeronautical designation for Vancouver International Airport.
Air Canada rouge inflight attendants sport the airline’s signature colours of burgundy and slate.
Cathay and Air Canada named best airlines
Cathay Pacific Airways and Air Canada received top awards at the recent 2014 Skytrax World Airline Awards. Cathay was named World’s Best Airline and Best Airline in Asia, while Air Canada celebrated its own award as the Best Airline in North America, for the fifth consecutive year. The announcement was made at the historic Wind Tunnels in Farnborough, U.K., during the recent World Airport Awards—a global benchmark of airline excellence.
Cathay Pacific and Air Canada have a long history with YVR. Cathay flew its maiden voyage from Hong Kong International Airport to YVR on May 1, 1983 and Air Canada’s predecessor, Trans-Canada Airlines, flew its first passenger flight on September 1, 1937 from Vancouver. Known informally in the travel industry as the Passenger Choice Awards, the Skytrax World Airline Awards is the largest and most-respected award in the industry.
See BEST AIRLINES page 2
Cathay Pacific Airways, which offers service from YVR, was named World’s Best Airline and Best Airline in Asia at the 2014 Skytrax World Airline Awards.
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