The B.C. Court of Appeal has dismissed WestJet’s efforts to overturn the certification of a class-action lawsuit on baggage fees. The Calgary-based airline is alleged to have between September 2014 and March 2019 published two prices for checked bags, one that was free and then charged passengers another that was higher. WestJet ultimately amended wording in its domestic tariff to remove that one checked bag will be free. The class action based in contract law, unjust enrichment, and a double-ticketing offence under the federal Competition Act was certified in January 2021. WestJet Airlines and WestJet Encore challenged certification relating to the claim under the Competition Act, not certification of the class in general. In a ruling released Friday, Justice Robert Bauman wrote that the plaintiffs’ efforts are not “bound to fail” because the meaning behind the alleged offence has not been “substantially developed.”<br/>
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Ryanair expects to fly 165m passengers as it returns to profit in the year to March 2023, CE Michael O’Leary told Spanish newspaper Cinco Dias. O’Leary said he expects occupancy on the airline’s jets will rise to between 90% and 95% this summer, the paper reported on Monday. Ryanair is profitable when occupancy reaches 80%, O’Leary was quoted as saying. The Irish low-cost airline, Europe’s largest by passenger numbers, flew 130m passengers in the financial year that ended as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold in March 2020, and only 27m the following year. <br/>
Malaysian air cargo carrier Raya Airways has denied being in talks with budget airline AirAsia Group Bhd for an acquisition, it said Monday. The company said the news reported over the weekend by The Edge Weekly about ongoing talks was factually incorrect. The weekly reported that the airline has approached businessman Ishak Ismail whose family owns Raya Airways, to acquire the carrier, and are in early conversations. “After consulting with Raya’s shareholders and Board of Directors, we would like to clarify that Raya and its subsidiaries/affiliate companies are not in any talks with AirAsia Group Berhad or any other parties for the acquisition of the Company or any part of its businesses,” it said. The carrier said its operational and financial position is strengthening and it is committed to the next stage of growth.<br/>