All signage at the airport is due to change tonight.  On Jan. 31, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will switch to an alpha-numeric gate lounge numbering system.

THE CHANGE
Today, gate numbers inside Terminal 1 start with a “1″ or a “2” followed by two more numbers.  As of Jan. 31, the first number (“1″ or “2”) will be replaced by a letter that signifies the sector and will be followed by two numbers. The letters will be:
- D for Domestic
- E for International
- F for USA
For example:
- Gate 120 is Domestic, as of Jan. 31: D20
- Gate 161 is Transborder, as of Jan 31: F61
- Gate 174 is International, as of Jan 31: E74

The 200 gate series (Gate 193 Extension) will follow the “F” gate numbering system and will have new gate numbers.

The GTAA plans to change all the signage on the night of January 30.

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Contract talks between Air Canada and its 3,000 pilots have broken off, signaling more labor trouble ahead for the country’s biggest carrier.

The two sides have been holding talks with the help of a federal conciliator since late November, but the pilots have accused Air Canada of walking away from the table, starting the countdown to a possible strike or lockout.

Under federal law, the pilots and Air Canada now enter a 21-day “cooling off” period, before either party can take any further action that could include a lockout or strike.

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The British Airport Authority has published an advisory warning of delays due to winds and blowing snow.  The weather forecast for Heathrow is indicating high winds and rain overnight tonight, with snow forecast from around 6am Friday morning until midday. High winds are also forecast for Europe.

Friday is due to be Heathrow’s busiest days of the year, with over 203,000 passengers travelling through the airport.  The BAA will have Reservists in the airport from early tomorrow morning through to the early hours of Saturday morning to support their operational teams and airlines in looking after passengers.

Travel Resources continues to monitor the situation and will provide our clients with information as it becomes available.

Travel Resources will work to protect passengers on alternate flights as schedules are updated.  Our team of senior consultants will contact clients directly affected to assist in making alternate travel arrangements.

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With the winter travel season upon us including the peak holiday travel period between December 20, 2011 and January 8, 2012, Air Canada is gearing up to ensure customers a smooth travel experience by offering time-saving tips.

Highlights

• aircanada.com has all the information for a one-stop easy self-service travel experience 
• Web and mobile check-in made easier
• Blackberry and iPhone Apps provide wide range of real-time flight information and self-service options
• Customers are invited to use web-based self-service rebooking tool during disruptions
• Daily Travel Outlook and Travel Advisories available at aircanada.com

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Air Canada says it is “disappointed” by a new US government fee that will be levied on travellers arriving in the United States by air from Canada.  AC said that the US$5.50 customs fee is being imposed at a time when governments should be undertaking initiatives to encourage economic growth, “not burden consumers with additional costs.”

The carrier notes as well that there’s no indication that the monies raised from the additional fees will be used where they are sorely needed — to make the necessary investments in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance resources at Canadian airports in order to better meet demand for US-bound travellers.

As a result, Air Canada said that it will be urging the US government to address staffing shortages at these US pre-clearance facilities, consistent with the objective of improving the flow of passengers and goods between Canada and the United States as both governments have committed to do.

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Following the federal Minister of Labour’s referral to the Canada Industrial Relations Board of the dispute between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing the airline’s 6,800 flight attendants, Air Canada has confirmed that both parties have achieved an agreement on a final and binding process to resolve the impasse under Section 79 of the Canada Labour Code.

 Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will submit outstanding issues to a process with the final and binding decision to be issued by no later than November 7, 2011. By agreeing to this process, the parties are also bound by the Labour Code requirement that no strike or lockouts may occur.

 Travel Resources continues to monitor the situation and will provide our clients with information as it becomes available.

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