air transat - The Canadian Business Journal

Air Transat
www.airtransat.ca
Get on board
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Air Transat
If you’re a frequent vacationer, you have probably flown
with Air Transat. As Canada’s leading holiday travel
airline, Air Transat carries about 3 million passengers
to nearly 60 destinations in 25 countries, every year!
With a fleet of 18 Airbus A330s and A310s, Air Transat
employs approximately 2,000 people.
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TRANSPORTATION • Air Transat
On a larger scale, Air Transat is a subsidiary of
6,500 people (5,000 of whom are in Canada),
Montreal-based Transat A.T. Inc., which is an in-
has approximately 17 business units and posts
tegrated, international tour operator and holiday
annual revenues of $3.5 billion.
travel specialist. So, in addition to air transporta-
Although Transat has grown significantly
tion, Transat also provides destination services,
and added to its services, Air Transat remains
such as rental and hotel bookings—particularly
the parent company’s mainstay. It is very im-
for Canada and Europe, as well as in the Carib-
portant for an international tour operator to be
bean, Mexico and the Mediterranean Basin.
able to secure airline seats on good terms and,
All together, the 23-year-old company employs
where possible, have better control over part of
JUNE 2010 • The Canadian Business Journal
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TRANSPORTATION • Air Transat
this supply and the related costs. When a tour
prefer to travel in style, Air Transat does offer
operator has control over a significant part of
the Club Class for superior comfort and exclu-
its air capacity, as is the case with Transat, it is
sive privileges. But travellers will find the econ-
better positioned to develop an appropriate and
omy class more than satisfactory with in-flight
flexible offering that meets travellers’ require-
movies, meals and other attendant services.
ments. And that is how the company has built
its success.
Don’t forget about cargo
For customers, one of the best features of
A division that the public might consider behind
Air Transat is its affordability. At any given mo-
the scenes is Air Transat Cargo. And though this
ment, the airline has featured deals, making
portion of the business doesn’t involve human
otherwise expensive trips a lot more accessible
passengers, it is still an extremely important ele-
to the average Canadian family. For those that
ment of the business. For example, Air Transat
JUNE 2010 • The Canadian Business Journal
The Pepsi® brand is making over $1 Million in grants available to support
ideas that you care about.*
health
arts & culture
food & shelter
the planet
* Some conditions & restrictions apply. For complete program details, go to www.refresheverything.ca © PepsiCo Canada ULC, 2010.
neighbourhoods
education
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TRANSPORTATION • Air Transat
Cargo is the leader in moving perishable goods
across all business sectors, companies will
from the south and into Canada during our win-
surely continue to need transportation services
ter months. Though many Canadians enjoy their
to move their goods.
mangos in January, they probably don’t consider
that they had to travel from somewhere else. It’s
Sustainable tourism
just one example of how integral cargo service is
Tourism is growing into one of the world’s leading
to end-customers, as well as the airline’s rev-
industries—where communities reap the econom-
enue stream. So it is no wonder that Air Transat
ic benefits and hundreds of millions of travellers
is focused on its development.
discover new cultures. Air Transat is committed
Presently, Air Transat Cargo flights extend to
to the responsible development of said industry,
Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin Ameri-
and has adopted the following definition of sus-
ca. Where the airline doesn’t travel, it leverages
tainable tourism: “Sustainable tourism entails
its interline partners to go beyond those points,
respect for nature, as well as for host communi-
so in fact, the airline is connected to an interna-
ties and their values; it combines positive socio-
tional network of air travel. Service-wise there is
economic benefits for local populations with an
little the division can’t do, and plans for future
enriching experience for travellers.”
fleet expansion will only increase capacity.
A new element that Air Transat Cargo has
The company has embarked on a number of
major projects under the auspices of its Sus-
factored into the business is its ultimate control
tainable Tourism Executive Committee, chaired
over the entire process. As of April 1, 2010, Air
by Lina De Cesare, Transat Co-founder and
Transat has integrated its cargo management
President, Tour Operators. All are connected
in-house to drive focus and organisation. The
in some way to the three pillars of sustainable
integration will also mean greater efficiency and
tourism: the environment; respect for local com-
higher performance for an improved bottom line
munities and protection of their culture; and the
and better customer service.
economy.
Air Transat is smart to further establish its
The issue of the environment, as far as Air
Cargo brand around the world, and grab a piece
Transat’s own facilities are concerned, is a clear
of the multi-billion-dollar logistics market. As
and basic target. Environment committees have
globalization becomes increasingly prevalent
implemented concrete initiatives with regard to
All their strategies
All our solutions
All making their business fly
For more than a decade, Allstream has provided advanced
communications solutions to connect the reservation systems,
data centres, employees, partners and the customers of
Air Transat, one of Canada’s leading vacation charter airlines.
It’s a first-class partnership we’re proud of.
Canada’s all-business communications provider
® Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., used under license.
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TRANSPORTATION • Air Transat
recycling, conservation of resources, the dispos-
Air Transat is also involved in humanitarian
al of obsolete electronic equipment and raising
aid issues. The best and most recent example
employee awareness. Air Transat, which proved
would be its response to the Haiti earthquake.
its forward-looking approach by adopting a strict
Within days of the devastation, Air Transat
fuel-management system in 2003, has since
received the authorization to operate a humani-
begun developing an environmental manage-
tarian flight from Montreal to Port-au-Prince
ment system that could lead to an ISO 14001
to assist the people of Haiti. On board the Air
certification in the future.
Transat Airbus A330 was 40 tons of cargo and
JUNE 2010 • The Canadian Business Journal
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TRANSPORTATION • Air Transat
JUNE 2010 • The Canadian Business Journal
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approximately 100 volunteers from various or-
dren’s Villages, a Transat partner that manages
ganizations, including the Red Cross, the Cen-
two villages for orphaned children in Haiti.
tre for International Studies and Cooperation
(CECI), Feed the Children, Oxfam-Québec and
Up and away
CARE Canada.
Air Transat is clearly an airline that has more up
Among other things, the plane carried wa-
its sleeve than just a seat on a plane. And as it
ter, 10,000 blankets, clothing, generators,
continues to facilitate relaxation to vacationers,
tents and 10,000 surgical masks, profitably
provide space for the goods we love, and reach
using all available cabin space and the cargo
out to those in the global community, Canadians
hold capacity. Part of the non-perishable items
will continue to get on board and use its air travel
and clothing collected and being transported
services. CB
by Air Transat comes from the employee donation drive for earthquake victims organized by
Transat. Some of the supplies went to SOS Chil-
www.airtransat.ca
AS SEEN IN THE JUNE 2010 ISSUE
OF THE CANADIAN BUSINESS JOURNAL