TORONTO — There’s never a dull moment in the travel industry and that’s especially true for Canada’s airlines.

This past year was a strong one for Canada’s carriers. While it wasn’t the gold rush of 2023, demand was still high, and another year of revenge travel kept plenty of bookings coming in.

As the airlines worked to maximize loads and streamline operations for the most efficient networks, there were schedule and operational changes, leading to headaches for many travel advisors.

The year ended with execs from four of Canada’s biggest carriers testifying before a parliamentary committee on contentious issues ranging from carry-on baggage fees to aviation industry reform.

Travelweek connected with six airlines – Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines and Flair Airlines – to get their take on 2024 highlights, and what’s on the horizon for 2025.

AIR CANADA

Lisa Pierce

VP, Global Sales & Air Canada Vacations

2024: “This year was incredible, and a key accomplishment was returning to stability and growth after the pandemic. This was highlighted by our decision to resume service to Beijing and increase our Shanghai flights, as China is a very important market. As well, there were other increases in the Pacific, with capacity up 31 per cent in the third quarter over 2023 and an exciting new route to Manila.

2025: “In 2025, customers will benefit from new technology throughout their journey, including biometric boarding options, more WiFi access, and even a new aircraft type as the first two A320 XLRs are due to arrive later this year. There are also important milestones such as the 40th anniversary of Aeroplan in 2024 and the 50th anniversary of ACV in 2025, which we celebrate not only as past accomplishments, but also because they speak to Air Canada’s long-term commitment to the future.”

Lisa Pierce, VP, Global Sales for Air Canada and ACV

WESTJET

Jeff Hagen

VP, Commercial Development & Strategic Partnerships

2024: “As part of our ambitious growth strategy, WestJet has made significant strides in expanding air connectivity across Canada. This summer, we enhanced our presence in Eastern Canada, strengthening connections to key Western Canadian destinations and restarting transoceanic flights from Halifax and St. John’s. Additionally, we launched new service between Calgary and Seoul, South Korea, solidifying YYC as a global hub for WestJet. We also unveiled two new offerings: UltraBasic fares, providing more affordable options, and Extended Comfort, enhancing the flying experience with extra space and convenience.

2025: “Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to complete the integration of Sunwing Airlines, which will further augment our ability to serve sun and leisure destinations for travellers across the country. We’ll also be rolling out several initiatives to improve affordability and convenience for Canadian travellers, including our partnership with TELUS to offer free in-flight WiFi.”

Jeff Hagen, VP Commercial Development & Strategic Partnerships, WestJet

PORTER AIRLINES

Edmond Eldebs

Senior VP & Chief Commercial Officer

2024: “Porter’s reach is expanding rapidly across North America. We are already the third-largest airline at Toronto Pearson Airport and the second-largest serving the combined Canada-U.S. markets from there. Our growing presence is disrupting the status quo and giving passengers genuine alternatives that previously didn’t exist. This winter season, we added substantially more flight options and became a real player in sun destinations, such as Florida (14 routes, from four Eastern Canada airports, to six destinations), California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Palm Springs), Las Vegas (from Toronto-Pearson, Ottawa and Montréal) and Phoenix. As we take on more aircraft, we will continue to expand our elevated economy service to more sun destinations and increase frequencies.

“Porter continues to expand our joint venture with Air Transat. The flow of passengers on both carriers means that Porter is able to develop a more robust North American network by increasing flight frequency on key domestic and transborder routes, and entering into new markets with less point-to-point traffic. Air Transat is then able to focus its capacity and destinations on transatlantic and sun routes that integrate with Porter flights. The joint venture also allows customers to book stand-alone flights on each airline through our respective distribution channels.”

2025: “We’re done a lot of research over the last year to better understand what Porter passengers want and expect in a loyalty program. Not only the types of ways they want to earn and redeem their points, but the underlying tenets of loyalty that represent what people want and expect from a brand. In 2025, we’ll be adding earning and redemption options with partner airlines to the VIPorter program, introducing a credit card and broadly improving the program to maximize the benefits for frequent travellers.”

Edmond Eldebs, Senior VP & Chief Commercial Officer, Porter Airlines

AIR TRANSAT

Marie-Eve Vallières

Senior Advisor, PR & Content

2024: “2024 was a year of bold initiatives and concrete progress, reinforcing our position as a leader in leisure travel and setting the stage for even greater accomplishments in the years ahead. One of Air Transat’s outstanding operational achievements in 2024 was the successful insourcing of passenger and ramp services at Montreal-Trudeau earlier this year. We’re very pleased to report a 7-percentage-point improvement in our on-time performance in the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year. This marks the second consecutive quarter of significant progress, largely due to this massive transition.

“On the network front, 2024 was a year of exciting growth. We launched flights to Lima and Marrakesh, marking our expansion into a new continent, and announced upcoming flights to Valencia in 2025. These additions highlight our dedication to connecting travellers with unique and culturally rich destinations. Strategically, our joint venture with Porter Airlines continues to be a game-changer, enhancing connectivity across Canada and laying the foundation for future growth. Finally, we continue to excel in customer experience. Our customer satisfaction rating (CSAT) saw continued improvement in the fourth quarter, reflecting the exceptional service that has earned us multiple accolades, including the Skytrax award for World’s Best Leisure Airline for the sixth time.

2025: “At Air Transat, our commitment is to ensure that anyone who flies with us feels they’re getting great value from every aspect of the journey, from the warm hospitality on board to the destinations we thoughtfully select. We are carrying forward the energy that drove our 2024 introductions of Marrakesh and Lima as we ramp up frequencies on key routes like Toronto–Amsterdam, Toronto–Montego Bay, and Toronto–Varadero in 2025. In fact, with 26 direct European routes now available from Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, we’re establishing ourselves as the only airline in the Americas opening doors to a wealth of curated, extraordinary places. Our evolving transatlantic and South networks underscore our trailblazing role in helping travellers see more of the world on their own terms.”

Marie-Eve Vallières, Sr. Advisor, PR & Content, Transat

SUNWING AIRLINES

Len Corrado

President

2024: “Our biggest accomplishment has to be our people. Sunwing Airlines has been successful because of our team of EPIC employees across all areas of the business, from our head office employees to our cabin crew and pilots, our maintenance and engineering team, and our partners on the frontline at the airport interacting with customers. This past November we also marked a milestone – 19 incredible years of service in the industry, helping to make our customers’ vacation dreams come true. We could not be prouder of all that we’ve accomplished together during this time.”

2025: “2025 is a big year for us. It will be Sunwing Airlines’ last winter in service, which is bittersweet, but we are looking forward to making this our best winter season yet. Our incredible airline team will remain focused on prioritizing the safety of our customers and employees throughout the travel journey, and on helping customers make incredible vacation memories to last a lifetime.”

Len Corrado, President, Sunwing Airlines

FLAIR AIRLINES

Eric Tanner

VP of Revenue Management & Network Planning

2024: “In 2024, Flair became the only airline offering direct flights from Vancouver International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport to Guadalajara International Airport (GDL), with up to three flights per week from each city. We’ve been warmly welcomed in Guadalajara as a vital link connecting friends, family, and business opportunities between Mexico and Canada.

“Despite inflation, Flair continues to carry over 4.5 million travellers annually, with a 3% year-over-year increase in load factors. We’re making air travel better, more affordable, and accessible for Canadians. In 2024, Flair delivered the highest flight completion rate and one of the best On-Time Performance (OTP) records among Canadian airlines. To strengthen that promise, we launched Canada’s first On-Time Guarantee (OTG), ensuring passengers can rely on us to get home, see loved ones, and attend important events – on time and at the right price.”

2025: “Expect more daily flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), making same-day trips between British Columbia and Alberta easier than ever. Flair is committed to making Canada more connected – affordably. Beyond offering lower fares and streamlined services, Flair is committed to delivering the ‘gift of connection.’ Flair is creating opportunities for lasting memories and positive experiences.”

Eric Tanner, VP Revenue Management & Network Planning, Flair Airlines (photo credit Mackenzie Calle)