Airlines
Sunwing Takes Off To Cuba
Sunwing resumed service to Cuba this past weekend (Dec. 13), launching weekly flights departing from Toronto and Montreal to Varadero on Sundays. Samantha Taylor, chief marketing officer at Sunwing Travel Group, said of the new service that: “Our customers have been eagerly awaiting our return to Cuba and we’re excited to be bringing them back to this popular island under our wing,” said “Cuba has been a favourite vacation destination of Canadian travellers for over 50 years. We have brought many Canadians to this beautiful destination in the past and we’re happy to help...
A Window Of Opportunity
GlobalData says that direct booking providers have a ‘window of opportunity in post-pandemic travel. The data and analytics company notes that online travel agents (OTAs) were the primary choice of booking channel for 44% of global respondents in Q3 2019, however, it continues, disputed refund policies, coupled with a lack of efficient customer service, give leading service providers an opportunity to boost direct bookings in post-pandemic travel. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, travel & tourism analyst at GlobalData, said that: “OTAs dominate the online travel market space, but the...
More Vacation Options From Sunwing
In a move that will help better service customers from coast to coast, Sunwing is offering Canadians more flexible opportunities to head back to the tropics this winter. The tour operator’s vacation packages now include options for flights on board a range of international alternative carriers and hotel stays in seven tropical destinations, with a wide variety of departure dates and options from regional gateways. Transfers and support from Sunwing’s destination representatives will also be included with select packages. Andrew Dawson, president of Tour Operations for...
A First For Air Canada
Air Canada is offering its customers the safety and convenience of a new boarding option utilizing facial biometrics. The technology is now available for customers departing San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with plans to progressively roll it out for customers at other US airports where the airline operates. Andrew Yiu, vice president, product at Air Canada, said: “Air Canada has introduced numerous touchless processes throughout the customer journey, and we are pleased to now offer an optional, innovative biometric boarding choice for customers departing SFO that is...
Cuba Gets A Boost From Canada
The Cuba Tourist Board says now "that Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, it’s time to take advantage of the increased capacity to Cuba by major tour operators." December will see an increase in the number of flights to Cuba, with the start of Hola Sun/Caribe Sol operations that will use new airline OWG. The service starts on Dec. 18 and will see 2 weekly flights to Cayo Santa Maria from Toronto and Montreal. Lessner Gomez, director of the Cuba Tourist Board's Toronto office, says “these flights will be the first arriving in this destination since March but more importantly...
Antigua & Barbuda Get A Lift From Air Canada
Antigua and Barbuda are celebrating a boost in airlift for the winter season as Air Canada returned to Antigua on Dec. 6, while US and UK airlines will be adding additional flights to the destination within the month. The early December flight was Air Canada’s first to Antigua since March. Passengers and flight crew were greeted upon arrival with a water salute and the Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Charles Fernandez and the CEO of Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James were on hand to greet the crew and passengers. Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, the Hon....
Western Canada BDMs Have A Message
Hello Western Canada Travel Agents! We all hope that you are doing well and staying healthy. As you may or may not know, it has been a tradition in Alberta for the Suppliers to visit the agencies during the Holidays to sing some carols and spread some good cheer. Last year, the BC suppliers also started what was to be a tradition. In Alberta, we also started a Food drive, so maybe you can continue this tradition by dropping off a donation at your local food bank. Well, as we all know, 2020 has not been the norm, so we too had to change the way we do things. The good...
IATA Reports A Disappointing October
IATA reports that the recovery of passenger demand continued to be disappointingly slow in October. The industry association indicated: Total demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 70.6% compared to October 2019. This was just a modest improvement from the 72.2% year-to-year decline recorded in September. Capacity was down 59.9% compared to a year ago and load factor fell 21.8 percentage points to 60.2%. International passenger demand in October was down 87.8% compared to October 2019, virtually unchanged from the 88.0% year-to-year decline recorded in...