This Canadian airline wants to start flying travelers to the Caribbean in the middle of a pandemic
Canadian charter outfit Nolinor Aviation is bucking the trend of bad aviation news with plans to begin offering holidaygoers flights to Caribbean beaches in the coming months.
The Montreal-based operator has unveiled plans for a passenger airline branded OWG offering flights between Quebec and the Caribbean. The new charter operation will operate Boeing 737-400 jets outfitted with 158 economy seats.
The move, which Nolinor said has been in the works for two years, comes as global air travel is at historic lows due to the coronavirus pandemic. Canada's three largest airlines Air Canada, Air Transat and WestJet have culled much of their schedules and plan fly just 60 flights to the Caribbean in July -- less than 10% of what they offered last year, according to Cirium schedules.
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In a statement, OWG president Marco Prud’homme said the new carrier will focus on the passenger experience as major airlines have "cut the quality of their services year after year." The inflight service will include protections against COVID-19.
"Our goal is to win the hearts of Quebecers with a new airline whose mission is to get travelers excited again,” he said.
Still, the viability of a new airline is questionable. Air Canada has unveiled domestic Canada network cuts that are understood to be a push for government aid to help bridge them -- and other airlines -- through the crisis. Not to mention that many Caribbean destinations where OWG plans to fly maintain border restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.
Related: Air Canada drops 8 cities from route map amid coronavirus adjustments
OWG is not the only new airline eyeing a launch during the pandemic. JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman continues to work towards launching his new venture Breeze Airways though the target start date has been pushed to 2021.
Breeze plans to connect leisure-focused destinations in the southern U.S. with under-served mid-sized cities in the North, like Cincinnati (CVG) and Pittsburgh (PIT). The airline has a deal to acquire used Embraer E195s from Azul, which was also founded by Neeleman, and an order for new Airbus A220s.
Nolinor has flown both passenger and cargo charter services in Canada's Far North since 1992. It said that it received Transport Canada certification for the new operation on July 6.
Related: JetBlue founder’s new airline Breeze delays launch to 2021
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees