Air Canada expands routes as new research reveals Canadians’ travel priorities

Air Canada is making it easier for Canadians to turn a destination idea into a booked vacation – whether they are returning to a familiar favourite or discovering somewhere new.

New research from Ipsos offers insight into what Canadian fall and winter travellers want from their next escape. Of those surveyed, nearly three-quarters (72%) say relaxing and recharging are important when choosing a destination, while 55% say there are many winter destinations they have yet to explore.

Nearly one in four typically return to the same destination or rotate among a small number of preferred getaways. For 36% of those surveyed, the appeal of trying somewhere new is the possibility of finding a new favourite.

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo at Air Canada, observed that: “Canadians love their favourite winter escapes, but our research shows many are curious about destinations beyond the familiar.”

And Galardo continued: “Our expanded winter network is designed to offer our customers more choice, more non-stop options and more opportunities to discover somewhere new, while continuing to serve the destinations Canadians return to year after year – with the confidence that comes from travelling with Air Canada.”

Choosing a winter destination can be about more than finding sun. Safety, healthcare quality and political stability are among the considerations Canadian travellers weigh when deciding where to go, along with financial risk and weather. With more non-stop service, more destination choice and Air Canada Vacations packages, Air Canada makes the journey and the planning straightforward.

As for where Canadians want to go, more than one-third (37%) surveyed say destinations in Central and South America, including Colombia and Peru, feel unfamiliar, but are places they would still like to visit. Similarly, from the survey, 33% say the same of long-haul Asia-Pacific destinations.

Air Canada’s research suggests Canadians are interested but may be more hesitant when destinations feel unfamiliar. Air Canada’s expanding network helps bridge that gap by making new winter destinations easier to reach, plan and book. The same appetite is visible in the destinations Canadians are already considering: in the survey Hawaii tops the list of future winter escapes at 49%, followed by Costa Rica at 47% and Australia at 41%.

The airline’s new routes give travellers different ways to discover somewhere new. Explore the volcanic landscapes of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, discover the beaches and reefs of Roatán, take in the culture and history of Santo Domingo, savour the cuisine and cultural richness of Mérida, or experience Mazatlán’s Pacific coast. These destinations offer more than a new route – they offer different ways to make a new favourite winter escape.

Air Canada’s previously announced expanded winter schedule includes service to Tenerife, Roatán, Santo Domingo, Mérida and Mazatlán, as well as additional seasonal service from cities across Canada:

• From Montréal: Tenerife, Roatán, Santo Domingo Quito and Aruba
• From Toronto: Tenerife, Roatán, Quito and Mérida
• From Vancouver: Mazatlán, Monterrey, Liberia and Puerto Escondido
• From Calgary: Cancún and Puerto Vallarta
• From Edmonton: Montego Bay
• From Winnipeg: Montego Bay and Punta Cana
• From Québec City: Pointe-à-Pitre
• From Halifax: Bridgetown

For travellers considering a broader range of winter getaways, Air Canada’s long-haul network connects Canadians with destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Bangkok, Manila, Sydney and Buenos Aires. The airline also continues to offer strong service to favourite sun destinations, including the Bahamas, Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Saint Martin and Costa Rica.