• CTA Ruling --WestJet's lost luggage policy is "unreasonable" and must quickly be increased beyond its current $250 limit per passenger, the Canadian Transport Agency (CTA) has ruled.  The agency has given WestJet 20 days to come up with a higher limit and also a policy of allowing passengers to pay extra to cover luggage that exceeds the maximum.  If the airline fails to do so, the agency said it would impose the standard adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under the Montreal Convention, which could amount to as much as $1,800 per passenger.  WestJet said it was reviewing the ruling, which was issued July 27th.  In reaching its decision, the CTA said it agreed with the complainant, Gabor Lukacs, a assistant math professor at the University of Manitoba.  Lukacs noted WestJet's coverage is worse than most other Canadian airlines and even some bus lines.  Air Canada's limit is $1,500 per passenger, while Greyhound Bus Lines' is $250, but both offer customers the option of buying more coverage, he argued before the transport agency.  The limit is $1,000 at Porter Airlines and $750 at Canadian North, Bearskin Airlines and First Air the agency noted in its decision.

• New Delivery---the most recent Boeing 737NG to join the fleet was delivered on 29 July when it flew from Seattle-BFI to Calgary as "WJA8950".   It is registered C-GSWJ /FIN261  (msn 37423) and is a -700 model.

• New Financing ---they went looking for $900 million of high-yield debt and ended up with $1.1 billion on more attractive terms than their previous $700 million credit facility.  By any measure that transaction by Air Canada is a major success.  Not only did the issuer raise more capital, it did so on more attractive terms.  The blended interest rate on the new borrowings is just over 10%, which compares favourably with the minimum 12.75% required under the facility put in place last July with four non-bank lenders.  The issuer has also been able to extend the term.  The $700 million fully drawn facility was set to mature in July 2014; now the bulk of the issue won't have to be paid off until August 2015.  "It was a very interesting and successful deal," said one market participant, who added Air Canada made a little history with the collateral used to support the borrowings.  The deal marks the first time a Canadian airline has been able to use its Pacific route rights and gate slots (at LaGuardia and Heathrow as collateral) for a capital markets borrowing.  (Other assets, including real estate, were also used as part of $2 billion collateral.)

• Route Change ---effective with the winter schedule period on October 31st Air India will begin flying non-stop from Delhi to Toronto using their Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.  This will eliminate the stop at London-Heathrow currently being employed.  The daily flight will depart Delhi at 0125hrs local time arriving at Toronto at 0645hrs.  The eastbound flight will depart Toronto at 1035hrs arriving in Delhi at 1125hrs the next day local time.  

• New Route Launched ---launched their new Calgary-Seoul service on July 27th becoming the first non-Canadian carrier to offer non-stop service between Calgary and Asia.  Flights will operate three days per week until August 26th, with hopes of extending the 15 flights to a daily service next summer.  Calgary is hoping they will make it a year-round service eventually and is actively searching for other Asian carriers to offer direct service to Calgary from other points such as Beijing.

• Type Certificate --Viking Air of Victoria has received Transport Canada Type Certification for the DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otter.  Under an amendment of the Type Certificate Data Sheet A-82, the Series 400 Twin Otter has been added to the approved types list of 100, 200 and 300 Series aircraft.  The receipt of the amended Type Certificate adding the Series 400 is the culmination of a three year process of facility construction, prototyping, development, manufacturing, testing and certification that started when the program was announced in 2007.  David Curtis, Viking president and CEO, commented "It is hard to express in words how important achieving this milestone is, not only for everyone at Viking, but for our stakeholders and supply chain partners as well.  We are writing the next chapter in the long history of de Havilland Aircraft in Canada, and thank our customers who have remained loyal even through one of the toughest economic environments in recent memory."  The first new Viking production Series 400 Twin Otter (msn 845) completed certification testing in late June, and was ferried from Viking's corporate head quarters on the west coast to the Farnborough Air Show for hand-over to launch customer Zimex Aviation of Switzerland.  The Series 400 Twin Otter incorporates over 800 changes developed to modernize and improve upon the value and safety of the original production model, of which the most significant change is the integration of the Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite.  The updated flight deck features two primary flight displays (PFDs) and two multifunction displays (MFDs) with high resolution LCD screens, providing wider viewing ability and cross cockpit scanning.  The Primus Apex's flexible architecture supports the aircraft's unsurpassed capability with a comprehensive software package, allowing each customer the ability to select the configuration suited for their specialized operating environment.  Other changes include upgraded Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 engines, use of composite materials, light weight interior, simplified electrical and LED lighting systems, also value added options such as de-ice and air-conditioning.  

• Support Network --Viking Air and Avtrak LLC of Littleton Colorado have entered into a multi-year agreement for the use of the Avtrak GlobalnetTM platform to assist operators with their aircraft maintenance program management needs.  The program, known as Viking MX will be managed by Viking's customer support division "ATLAS" (Aircraft Technical Liaison And Support)  The Viking MX system will allow operators to easily plan, track and schedule maintenance activities, maintain regulatory compliance, and work closely with the OEM in monitoring overall aircraft systems reliability. 

• Russian Assembly ---Viking Air and Vityaz Avia Corporation of Moscow have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for the potential development of a Twin Otter Series 400 final assembly facility in Eastern Russia.  Viking would be instrumental in the development of the aircraft final assembly facility, establishing quality, maintenance, and training procedures for Vityaz management, helping to springboard the Twin Otter Series 400 into the developing market.  The facility would also potentially become a Factory Endorsed Service Centre and Series 400 training facility once the type has been introduced in the territory.  In 2009, Vityaz Avia Corporation was announced as the Series 400 Sales Representative for Russia, with the purchase of two Twin Otter Series 400 commuter configured aircraft for use as demonstrator models, making Vityaz the first Twin Otter operator in the country.  Subsequent to the sale agreement, Viking will work with Vityaz to secure Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) Type Certificate for the Series 400 Twin Otter.  

• Argentine Contract --ICAO, acting on behalf of the Government of Argentina and the Argentine Aeronautic Administration (AAA), has awarded to Viking Air Limited the maintenance contract for overhaul of the second of eight DHC-6-200 Twin Otters operated by the AAA.  The contract will be carried out at the Argentina Air Forces base in Quilmes (Buenos Aires), Argentina, and will encompass a heavy maintenance visit, including completion of "C" check, installation of up-rated engines, new avionics suite, incorporation of applicable Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins, with the work to be performed by Argentina Air Force personnel and supervision, instruction, and training provided by Viking's on-site representatives.  

• Canada Service --the airline is still waiting for final approval from the CTA for its license to begin international scheduled service linking Beijing with Toronto on August 7th.  The airline plans to use their Airbus A340-600s on the route operating three days per week (Mon/Wed/Sat) with flights arriving at Toronto(YYZ) at 1420hrs as flight CHH7975 and departing at 1600hrs as flight CHH7976 non-stop to Beijing.  The airline will utilize Terminal 3 at Toronto.  While the August 7th start date is pretty optimistic, the airline will begin service and another date announced once they receive their final license approval from the CTA.

• New Parkade --the Calgary Airport Authority has opened a new on-site seven-level covered parkade, adding 1,930 more stalls to its parkade facilities, and bringing the total number of available parkade spaces to 7,480.  This is the final phase of its Parking Made Easy program, a multi-phase initiative aimed at enhancing the guest experience at Calgary (YYC).  The Authority is also excited to announce that weekly parking rates in the covered parkades have been reduced to $99.  Parking rates in the airport's surface Economy lot have decreased to $49.95.

• Premium Lounge --passengers wishing to get away from the normal hustle and bustle of the airport departure lounge will soon be able to do so at Calgary International Airport.  Servisair/GlobeGround, the international provider of aviation services and the Calgary Airport Authority are opening a premium common-use lounge in Concourse D, the airports most recently opened combination domestic and international facility.  Servisair is the largest operator of lounges in Europe, last year serving nearly 1,000,000 customers in nine countries.  The new luxury Lounge at Calgary will cater to the discerning traveller and will offer a range of exclusive services including; Internet access, bar area featuring complimentary beer, wines and spirits, beverages, soft drinks and snack, and much more including large screen television and flight information screens.  

• Aveos Contract --Aveos Fleet Performance (formerly Air Canada Maintenance) is pleased to announce that it has signed twelve year Engine and Airframe Maintenance Agreements with Air France.  This strengthens Aveos' role as a leading MRO with globally recognized engine and airframe overhaul capabilities.  Beginning in July 2010, the agreements include the maintenance, repair, over -haul and related services for CFM56 engines, as well as Airbus A320, A330, and A340 aircraft. 

• Bathurst Airport --the government of Canada announced on July 27th that it will make a $2.2 million contribution for important safety upgrades to the Bathurst NB airport.  "The Bathurst Airport is an important infrastructure serving the needs of thousands of passengers yearly in Northern New Brunswick.  The Airport Authority is very excited to be moving forward with the rehabilitation of the Bathurst Regional Airport's runway and to be acquiring new snow removal equipment," said Mr. Brunet, president of the Northern New Brunswick Airport Authority.  "We appreciate that the Government of Canada has been able to provide vital financial support under the Airports Capital Assistance Program.  These projects would not have been possible without this important program."

• New Wings ---Lockheed Martin delivered the first of 10 new Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) outer wings on July 28th for installation on a CP-140 Aurora for the Government of Canada.  These wings will be installed by IMP Aerospace, a Lockheed Martin P-3 service center located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Canada operates a fleet of 18 CP-140 Aurora aircraft playing a critical role in search and rescue, overland surveillance, economic zone and shipping lane protection, submarine detection and anti -terrorism.  The aircraft are based on the P-3 Orion airframe.  The MLU program replaces the outer wings, center wing lower surface, horizontal stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer leading edges with all new material.  All necessary fatigue-life limiting structure is replaced and new alloys are used with a five-fold increase in corrosion resistance to provide significantly reduced maintenance and sustainment costs.  The MLU will extend the structural service life of the CP-140 up to 15,000 hours and adds 20 years of operational use.    

• New Orders ---announced during the Farnborough Air Show a new order from VistaJet in Switzerland for four Global Express XRS jets and two Challenger 605s.  Qatar Airways for two Global 5000s for delivery in 2010/2011 time period, and from an undisclosed customer in Russia for four Global Express XRS jets.  

• Learjet Site ---Bombardier has secured a deal with the State of Kansas to collaborate on a new Learjet site in Wichita with details expected to be made known by July 30th.

• CSeries Testing ---has completed ultimate load testing on the CSeries composite demonstrator wing, built in Belfast Northern Ireland.  

• AIRWARE Agreement --Alcan Global ATI and Bombardier, have entered into a long-term agreement for the exclusive supply of AIRWARE, Alcan's advanced aluminum-lithium alloy technology, to provide primary structure for the all-new CSeries aircraft.  Airware will comprise more than 20% of all materials used in the CSeries aircraft.  The technology is based on the mastering of low density alloys, has helped Bombardier develop a high-strength, light, metallic fuselage by combining sheets and extrusions to manufacture fuselage skins, stringers, frames and floor beams.  This contributes to significant improvements in aircraft operating costs, fuel consumption and emissions reduction.  

• Liebherr Group Expands ---Liebherr Group of Switzerland, whose specialties include aeronautics equipment, will be expanding its facilities in Laval to accommodate the assembly and testing of the landing gear for Bombardier's CSeries aircraft.  Liebherr-Aerospace Canada, which receives support from Montreal International, the Quebec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Invest Quebec, Canada Economic Development and Laval Technopole, plans on hiring about 35 employees.  The announcement of this investment was made at the Farnborough International Air Show.

• Viking Air ---has received Transport Canada type certification for its Twin Otter Series 400, and has delivered first one to Zimex Aviation. 

• CAE Deal ---has signed a master agreement with ATR to develop simulators and training programs for ATR, CAE or customer training centers.  

• Biofuel Deal ---Targeted Growth Canada of Saskatchewan is leading a 6-partner consortium to demon -strate use of camelina-based biofuel on a Porter Airlines Q400 with PW150 engines by early 2012.  Sustainable Oils, UOP (Honeywell), Bombardier and P&WC are included in the group.

• Innotech Aviation ---has received a Transport Canada STC for its I-Ku airborne broadband system for Global Express business jet family.

• Avcorp Industries Inc. ---announced the signing of an agreement between the company and BAE Systems Operations Ltd. for the production of the F35 CV-OBW commencing in 2010 and with potential deliveries through 2023.  The Carrier Variant or F35C is currently only required by the US Navy.  The Memorandum of Agreement and associated Terms and Conditions were signed at the Canadian Pavilion at the Farnborough International Air Show.  Avcorp is establishing a production capability in 2010 and assembly will start by the end of the year with initial deliveries by mid-2011.  Most of this work will be completed in a dedicated facility in Delta BC with use of an extensive US and Canadian supply network.

• Court Loss ---two federal court applications alleging wrongdoing related to slot allocation at the Toronto City Airport (YTZ) brought forward by Air Canada against Porter Airlines Inc. and Toronto Port Authority (TPA) have been dismissed.  The dismissal on July 20th finds that agreements between Porter and the TPA were entirely appropriate and found no evidence of unfair treatment towards Air Canada.  Over the past four years, Air Canada has directly or through Jazz Air commenced five separate legal proceedings against Porter.  Each action has made allegations of impropriety.  The first three proceedings were abandoned by Jazz Air.  The Federal Court of Canada dismissed the remaining two proceedings by Air Canada yesterday as meritless allegations.  "This decision reinforces that the allegations were an attempt to distract and derail Porter," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines.  "The strength of the brand speaks for itself and we are happy to see the matter resolved, as we prefer to focus our attention on our passengers."   Jazz Air has already been ordered to pay approximately $600,000 in legal costs related to their prior lawsuits and Porter intends to pursue further cost recovery related to the outright dismissal of Air Canada's latest claims.  

• Fuelling Disruption --Servisair now admits in a legal document filed today (July 22nd) that there have been major flight delays at Vancouver International Airport since it locked out refuelling supervisors on Monday (July 19th) --delays it and YVR management denied publicly until now, says the supervisor's union.   A Servisair application to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board states that WestJet complained of "quite significant" delays and that "Air Canada advised Servisair that it could not afford a repeat" of delays experienced on Monday July 19th when replacement workers took over from existing trained supervisors, says Stephen Dunsmore, Regional VP Pacific of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees--a component union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.  The Servisair application says Air Canada complained of "cost attributable to fuelling delays" and that United, KLM, Continental, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, US Airways and Air North all reported fuelling delays.  

• Exemption Granted ---has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) for an exemption from the application of section 59 of the Canada Transportation Act.  Hainan Airlines has applied for the exemption to permit it to sell, cause to be sold or publicly offer for sale, a scheduled international air service between the People's Republic of China and Canada, in the absence of a license.  The applicant states that it proposes to start operating its service between China and Canada on August 7, 2010 and that it is in the process of obtaining a Canadian foreign air operator certificate issued by Transport Canada which is required to complete the licence application.  Consequently, the applicant submits that in order for the proposed service to be viable and economic, it must be allowed to start selling in advance.  The CTA has granted the exemption but with the proviso that in the event that the license is not granted Hainan Airlines will offer full refunds to passengers who have booked, or provide alternate air transportation on other airlines at no additional cost to the passenger.  

• MACH Initiative --Aero Montreal, the Quebec Aerospace Cluster announced during the Farnborough International Air Show the launch of the MACH initiative designed to optimize the performance of Quebec's aerospace supply chain and increase its global competitiveness.  "Quebec's aerospace industry has been mobilizing to stay competitive and maintain its global position, and has decided to quickly address the supply chain challenges," said Gilles Labbe, Chairman of the Board of Aero Montreal and President and CEO of Heroux-Devtek.  At the same time during the Air Show at Farnborough, Aero Montreal signed a framework agreement on cooperation with North West Aerospace Alliance, the UK's aerospace cluster.  This agreement aims to establish a special relationship between the two parties, increase the collaboration in supply chain optimization, and exchange benchmarking data.  Suzanne M. Benoit, CEO of Aero Montreal, welcomed the initiative, saying it will provide significant benefits to Quebec's aerospace industry.  "We share similar objectives for our respective members and strongly believe in the potential for dialogue on mutual challenges and the sharing of best practices, mainly in the area of supply chain optimization," she said.  

• Charter Agreement ---Transat A.T. Inc. and air carrier Transavia France have reached a three-year agreement under which Transat France will charter narrow-body Boeing 737-800 aircraft, mainly for its destinations in the Mediterranean Basin.  The agreement was signed by Jean-Marc Eustache, President and CEO of Transat, and Lionel Guerin, President and CEO of Transavia France.  With this agreement, Transavia France becomes the partner of choice of Vacances Transat and Look Voyages for their medium-haul chartered flights and seat needs.  

• Reduces C02 Emissions ---the Trent 700 engines that power Air Transat's five Airbus A330s will be retrofitted as part of a new, seven-year TotalCare agreement signed with Rolls-Royce.  The retrofitting will enhance the engine's efficiency, improving their environmental performance by reducing fuel consumption by more than 1% and CO2 emissions by a total of over 4,000 tonnes per year for the five A330s.  The retrofit kits, derived from technology developed for the latest generation of Rolls-Royce Trent 900 and Trent 1000 engines, will improve compressor and turbine aerodynamics in the Trent 700s.  The Trent 700EP kits will be installed on each of the aircraft's engines over a 24-month period.

• Mechtronix Deal ---Mechtronix Systems Inc., an MWC Company, and a world leader in Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTD), announced that ATR once again selected Mechtronix novel FFT X to support the Entry Into Service of its new ATR 42/72-600 aircraft program.  The FSTD will be the first component of ATR's training equipment suite and will be used for the training of pilot--both conversion and transition courses--as well as maintenance personnel.  With this novel simulator, ATR will provide their airline customers with cost-effective training in the latest technology enabling a smooth and efficient entry to service of thier new aircraft fleet.  The unit will be delivered by spring 2011 and will be deployed at ATR Training Center in Toulouse France.  

• Heroux-Devtek Contracts ---announced that Triumph Aerostructures--Vought Aircraft Division has awarded the Aerospace segment of Heroux-Devtek two new multi-year contracts valued in excess of $35 million CA.  The stated contract values are based on current program expectations.  First, Progressive Inc., a business unit of Heroux-Devtek's aerostructures products operations located in Arlington Texas was awarded a long-term contract to manufacture aluminum wing ribs and other machined components for the Gulfstream 550 business jet program.  Deliveries are scheduled to begin later in calendar year 2010 and continue through calendar year 2015.  Illustrating the commonality, flexibility, and risk mitigation Heroux-Devtek offers to its clients, Progressive will manage the contract, but machining capacity will be carried out at the Laval, Quebec facility.  The second long-term agreement was awarded to the landing gear products operations and involves the fabrication and delivery of torque tubes for the Boeing 737 program.  Deliveries will begin in 2010 and continue through to 2015.  Production will be carried out at the Laval, Quebec plant.  

• Lawsuit --Robert Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines has personally filed a statement of claim against Air Canada for breach of contract.  The claim seeks up to $5 million in damages related to a travel pass agreement.  In 1986, the Deluce family sold Air Ontario and Austin Airways to Air Canada.  Under the terms of the sale, Air Canada agreed to provide Mr. Deluce and his spouse with a free travel pass for life.  In the fall of 2009, Air Canada unilaterally, and without warning, stopped honoring the arrangements.  "I perceive this as being just another in a series of tactical moves by Air Canada to distract and influence Porter," said Deluce.  The claim will be considered by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.  

• New Award ---on July 13th announced that Porter Airlines is rated an Official 4 Star Airline in the World Airline Star Rating by Skytrax for the third year in a row.  Porter is the only airline in Canada and one of only two airlines throughout North America to be awarded a 4-Star ranking.  Skytrax is a trusted advisor regarding airline quality standards.  The Official 4-Star Airline ranking signifies a recognized standard of quality performance across a broad range of product and service benchmarks both on the ground and in the air.  Categories include service efficiency, check-in services, baggage delivery, and lounge facilities.  Ratings are reviewed annually through detailed data analysis, examining performance across more than 800 different areas of product and service delivery.  

• New Route ---effective August 1st will introduce new connection between Setp-Iles Quebec and Newfoundland as well as new intra-Newfoundland flight.  There will be a once daily Sept Iles-Wabush-Goose Bay-gander service which will be operated by Exploits Valley Air Services using a Beechcraft 1900D.  This will result in Sept-Iles-Wabush service increase to 3 daily combined with other Air Canada services.  Flights will depart Sept Iles (YZV) at 0630 arriving in Gander at 1235hrs local time.  Westbound will depart Gander at 1520hrs arriving back in Sept Iles at 1805hrs.  This will then allow the aircraft to operate another round trip departing Sept Iles to Wabush at 1825hrs and after over nighting there depart Wabush at at 0615hrs back to Sept Iles.  

• Labour Issue --Jazz Air LP announced that its Flight Attendants, represented by the Canadian Flight Attendant Union (CFAU), have ratified a tentative agreement which was reached on June 30th.  The agreement covers a 6-year period expiring June 30, 2015.  CFAU represents approximately 760 Flight Attendants employed at Jazz.

• F-35 Order --the Canadian government announced it plans to spend $9 billion to purchase a new generation of fighter jets, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.  Defence Minister Peter MacKay told a news conference that the jets would be purchased from Lockheed Martin, with the first one expected for delivery by 2016.  The full cost could rise to as much as $18 billion once the government signs a maintenance contract.  MacKay said the government would make further announcements on additional costs at a later date.  The new jets would replace an aging fleet of CF-18s that recently underwent a $2.6 billion upgrade.  

• New Order ---TrueNorth Avionics of Canada has been selected to supply Simphone OpenCabin by RUAG Aerospace Services for a European Head-of-State Challenger, and the Mid-Canada Mod Center by Flying Colours for its Challenger 850 completion program.  

• Regional Sale ---announced that it has sold its 55% interest in the Cargojet Regional Partnership to SkyLink Express Inc. for a $3.2 million promissory note secured by aircraft owned by SL Express.  SL Express previously held the other 45% interest in the Partnership, and will operate the regional business under its own trade name, Skylink Express.  Cargojet will record a one-time cash loss of approximately $2.0 million on the sale of its 55% interest in the Partnership. "The sale of our regional air cargo business was a difficult but necessary decision that was made in the best interests of our customers, our employees and our unitholders," said Ajay Virmani, President and CEO of Cargojet.  "Sustaining a profitable regional air cargo business has been especially challenging, as recent economic conditions have resulted in a decline in customer demand and lower yields.  The elimination of the drag on our financial and administrative resources will allow Cargojet to continue to focus upon and to seek further profitable growth opportunities in its national and international air cargo programs."   Skylink's version of the press release says it is pleased to announce that it now owns 100% of Cargojet Regional Partnership after acquiring the remaining 55% interest from its partner, Prince Edward Air Ltd. (PEAL), a subsidiary of Cargojet Income Fund.  Dan Rocheleau, President of SkyLink Express, says "This deal with PEAL will make SkyLink Express the largest regional air cargo operator in Canada.  We have a long history in this business and highly qualified management and operations teams, so we are well-positioned to take SkyLink Express through this growth phase and on to greater heights."

• New Route ---announced that it is continuing to expand its transborder operations from the Toronto hub with the re- introduction of Toronto-New Orleans service on October 30, 2010.  The daily non-stop service will be flown using a 75-seat Jazz Air CRJ-705 featuring Executive and Economy class service.  This is the eighth new route from Toronto to the U.S. being launched this year.  

• Sub-Service ---applied to the CTA on behalf of itself and Air Italy S.p.A. for an approval pursuant to section 60 of the Canada Transportation Act.  The application for an approval to permit LOT to provide its scheduled international service between Warsaw and Toronto using aircraft and flight crew provided by Air Italy from July 13 to August 26, 2010.  The CTA has approved the application.

• North American Expansion ---Chairman and CEO Hussein Massoud told Air Transport World during the recent Star Alliance event in Athens to induct Aegean Airlines into the grouping that EgyptAir will deploy the new 777-300s on its daily Cairo-New York-JFK flights starting in December.  Next summer it will add Toronto as its second North American destination, Massoud revealed.  The airline is expecting delivery of two 777-300s in November and December and to take delivery of its first new A330-300 in August.  EgyptAir will launch mobile and Internet services onboard its new A330-300 fleet with passengers being able to use the Wi-Fi service throughout their flight to make calls through their mobile phones with the same international call rates of their service providers.  

• Pedestrian Tunnel ---in a recent Ipsos Reid survey 56 per cent of Torontonians are in favour of improving access to the Billy bishop Toronto City Airport via a pedestrian tunnel.  The result is in line with a 2009 public opinion survey in which 62 per cent supported a pedestrian tunnel to the BBTCA, with 31 per cent opposed.  Today, July 12th, the Toronto Port Authority announced that const -ruction of the new pedestrian tunnel will commence next year and take about 2 years to have completed.  When completed, passengers will still have the option of using the ferry service and it will still be used to transport vehicles to/from the Island airport.  

• New Routes ---have announced plans for this coming winter schedule period including the introduc -tion of four times per week service linking Toronto with New Orleans as of November 1st.  Grand Cayman thrice-weekly starting November 4th and Santa Clara Cuba weekly commencing November 5th through the winter season.  The new winter schedule includes three new destinations, 10 new routes and expanded service on more than 30 others.  In addition to the new Toronto routes mentioned above, new seasonal non-stop service between Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton/Winnipeg /Saskatoon/Regina/Montreal and Montego Bay Jamaica will be offered and from Montreal and Calgary to Varadero Cuba, and Montreal to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.  WestJet will also expand its non-stop service from seasonal to year-round between the following cities; Ottawa-Halifax and Ottawa-Vancouver, Toronto-Bermuda, Toronto-Samana DR, Toronto and Puerto Vallarta, and from Montreal to Punta Cana.  WestJet will increase the number of seasonal non-stop flights this winter from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal to exciting destinations such as Honolulu, Maui, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.  

• In Court over TCCA ---has asked the court to scrap the recent award of take-off and landing slots at Toronto's downtown airport, arguing the allocation process was "fatally flawed."  The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) handed Porter Airlines a "permanent gift" when it gave the lion's share of the new slots to the tiny upstart, lawyers for Canada's biggest airline said.  "There was a total failure of the open and transparent process that was promised," Air Canada lawyer Neil Finkelstein told a court in Vancouver.  The TPA, a federal port authority that owns and operates the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, last month announced that Porter had secured 44 of the 90 new slots.  Air Canada got 30 slots and U.S. based Continental Airlines received 16.  Porter, a private regional airline founded in 2006, currently enjoys a monopoly on flying out of the airport, based on an agreement signed with the TPA in 2005.  Air Canada, through its regional feeder service Jazz Air flew out of the airport until 2006 when it was evicted by the TPA and Porter.  Porter's stranglehold at the island airport is causing "irreparable harm" to Air Canada, the airline said in court documents filed in February as it is losing out on lucrative business travelers in the busy Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa triangle.  In the documents Air Canada said the TPA, using an independent consultancy, awarded the new slots based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines that give precedence to an incum -bent airline.  But in order to use the IATA guidelines, the TPA needed to change the airport's designation.  Air Canada argues that the federal authority did not do the capacity analysis and extensive public consultation required to be allowed to change the airport's status.  "The TPA has cherry-picked elements of the IATA guidelines which suit its improper purposes and those of Porter while flouting other provisions of the IATA guidelines, which, as a whole, are designed to assure that carriers have equitable access to slots.  Federal court rulings typically take between three and six months.  

• New Sales ---Flight simulator and aviation training company CAE said it has won CAD$55 million in new contracts, including four full-flight simulators.  Bombardier, Vietnam Airlines and a company identified only as a "US-based legacy airline" all signed contracts for full flight simulators (FFS), the company said.  CAE said it has now sold six FFS in the current 2011 financial year, which began on April 1st.  The company sold 20 FFS in financial 2010, and said it expects to sales to surpass that number this year due to a more positive market environment.  Its contract with Bombardier is for a simulator for the Montreal-based company's new Learjet 85 business aircraft.  It will be used for training, as well as to support aircraft testing and certification ahead of the Learjet 85's entry into service in 2013.  Toulouse-based regional turboprop aircraft maker ATR order a FFS capable of replicating the cockpits of both its ATR42-600 and ATR72-600 models.  CAE will also provide ATR with a separate simulator for maintenance and flight training.  Vietnam Airlines ordered an Airbus A320 FFS and has signed a contract with the CAE Global Academy to train 40 pilots.  CAE said the undisclosed US legacy airline ordered a Boeing 737 simulator.  

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• Self-tagging ---announced that it is expanding its self-service options to include self-serve baggage tagging, the latest in the airline's suite of self-service products, to other airports across Canada.  The move follows overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests in Vancouver, Montreal and Edmonton, where the feature was launched earlier this year.  Self-serve baggage tagging allows WestJet guests to use mobile, web or kiosk check-in to check in for their flight and print their own baggage tags when they arrive at the airport.  Guests checking in via kiosk may print their boarding passes and baggage tags at the same time.  Once the tags have been attached, guests drop baggage off at the appropriate location.  WestJet was the first airline in North America to introduce the electronic boarding pass via mobile device, one of many self-service options the airline offers.

• June Traffic --announced that June 2010 traffic results show a load factor of 78.2 per cent.  Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased 19.0 per cent year-over-year, and capacity grew 10.9 per cent over the same period.  The airline flew an additional 139,000 guests in June 2010 compared to June 2009.  

• New Order ---Deutsche Lufthansa AG has placed a firm order for eight CRJ900 NextGen regional jets.  The transaction involved the exercise of eight previously announced purchase rights.  Based on the list price for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, the contract is valued at approximately $317 million US.  Altogether, Lufthansa and its regional partners have previously ordered a total of 109 CRJ Series regional jets, including 62 CRJ100 and CRJ200 aircraft, 20 CRJ700 aircraft and 27 CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft.  The carriers also operate several very efficient Bombardier Q300 and Q400 turbo -prop aircraft.  The CRJ900 NextGen regional jets will be configured with 86 passenger seats.