For next season, Sunwing will increase its direct flights from Quebec, where the company has a base with on-site flight crews, facilitating operations.
• Also read: Air Canada is canceling its direct flights from Quebec to the south
Air Transat is also increasing its direct flights from Jean-Lesage International Airport.
Last week, Le Journal announced that Air Canada was canceling all direct flights south from Quebec for “operational” reasons.
Lack of pilots and supply problems are the main reasons the company cites to justify this decision, which penalizes travelers from Quebec by requiring them to make one or more stops to reach their destination.
“For next winter we have a 9% increased capacity compared to last winter. We’ve also added a new destination on the Cuban side, Cayo Largo, the first to be offered direct from Quebec,” said Lyne Chayer, General Manager Sunwing Quebec Vacations.
As a result, Sunwing will operate 21 direct flights from Quebec to Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Panama and the island of Roatan in Honduras.
Flight crew in Quebec
Like all airlines, Sunwing recruits, but one of the things that sets it apart, Ms. Chayer explained, is that the cabin crew is based in Quebec.
“We, the difference is that the airline has had a base in Quebec since 2007. We’re the only ones who have that.” This means that our pilots and flight attendants only operate flights from Quebec. That’s a huge benefit,” she continued.
In fact, Sunwing employs between 80 and 100 people during the high season in Quebec.
Air Canada also employs around 100 people in Quebec, but they are “solely responsible for ground operations,” the airline confirmed to the Journal.
“For the flight crew, this means far less travel. They land in Quebec and return home right after,” added Ms. Chayer.
air transat
For the upcoming season, Air Transat will operate 29 weekly flights south from Quebec City, including six weekly flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. This year, the airline added an additional flight per week to Punta Cana and another to Puerto Plata.
“Knowing that our 2023-2024 winter program was announced last May, this in no way means that the competition recently decided to change their flight schedule,” said Air Transat spokeswoman Marie-Ève Vallières .
Unlike Sunwing, Transat does not have a base with flight crews in Quebec.
Season 2023-2024
Despite fuel costs and strong international demand for sun destinations, package prices are similar to last year, Chayer said.
Courtesy of Sunwing
“People book very early this year. There are many people who got caught last year because of the lack of availability or the prices going up instead of going down.
“If we look at our sales figures, we are clearly up on the previous year,” added Ms. Chayer.
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