Airlines
Sunwing Adds Complimentary COVID-19 Insurance
Sunwing has partnered with Manulife to offer COVID-19 Coverage to Canadians at no additional cost when booking their long-awaited vacation. Designed to cover emergency medical and quarantine costs associated with COVID-19, this coverage is included in all Sunwing vacation packages (excluding cruises) and air only bookings with Sunwing Airlines (for a duration of 21 days or less) made between now and Oct. 31, 2020 for departures from Oct. 16, 2020 up to and including May 31, 2021. The COVID-19 Emergency Medical Certificate of Insurance includes, but is not limited to, medical...
COVID-19 Insurance Compliments Of Air Canada
Air Canada will be including complimentary COVID-19 emergency medical & quarantine insurance for eligible customers booking round-trip international flights. The coverage, available for new bookings made in Canada from Sept. 17 (today) until Oct. 31, 2020, inclusive, provides emergency medical and quarantine insurance designed to give customers added confidence when booking flights and travelling abroad. Lucie Guillemette, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Air Canada, said: “At Air Canada, we know people have personal, family and business reasons to...
Sun Destination Update From WestJet
WestJet released an updated schedule designed to get Canadians to and from key destinations while supporting the economic recovery of Canada through continued domestic flying. Beginning Oct. 4, 2020 WestJet will offer operations to and from 48 destinations including 39 in Canada, three in the U.S. and three in Mexico, two in Jamaica and one in the U.K. Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet chief commercial officer, said: “This fall we continue to offer guests stringent safety measures and travel that meets their needs during this extraordinary time.” He continued: “As more...
UNWTO Reports International Arrivals Plunged 93% In June
According to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals plunged 93% in June 2020, compared to June 2019 – driving home the severity of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the travel and tourism industry. For the first half of 2020, the UNWTO’s barometer reports that international tourist arrivals plummeted 65% -- representing an unprecedented decrease, as countries around the world closed their borders and introduced travel restrictions in response to the pandemic. In recent weeks, however, a growing number of destinations have started to...
Canada-US Border To Remain Closed To Oct. 21: Report
According to a report from the CBC, the Canada-US border closure will be extended to Oct. 21. Quoting a source “with direct knowledge of the situation,” the CBC story indicates that the federal government will extend the border closure another 30 days and the CBC is also reporting that its source indicated that Canadians should “expect the possibility that the border “will remain closed for longer.” The report of the extension of the border closure comes just a day after the UNWTO released its latest World Tourism Barometer which showed that international tourist arrivals...
Look At The Alternatives
IATA is urging the Canadian government to support the COVID-19 testing initiatives of Air Canada and WestJet as a means to safely reopen Canada to international and domestic travel without the need for blanket quarantine measures. The airline industry association points out that international traffic to Canada has plummeted since quarantine measures were introduced in March 2020. Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO, said: ‘‘There are alternatives to the quarantine measures currently in place that can both keep Canadians safe as well as revive the...
A Little Insurance From WestJet
WestJet has announced no-charge COVID-19 travel insurance coverage for eligible guests booking travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and European destinations including the United Kingdom. The airline says that for reservations made on or after Sept. 18, 2020, any WestJet air-only reservation including WestJet Vacations bookings for travel to and from Mexico, the Caribbean (excluding the U.S.), Europe (including U.K.) and inbound to Canada will provide eligible guests no-charge COVID-19 travel insurance through new partner TuGo. Coverage will be automatically applied at no...
A Healthy Achievement For Toronto Pearson
Toronto Pearson International Airport, operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), is the first Canadian airport to be accredited under the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation program. ACI-NA president and CEO, Kevin M. Burke said: “Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, North American airports have taken unprecedented steps to ensure the health and safety of passengers and airport workers.” Burke continued: “We are proud to recognize Toronto Pearson International Airport as the first Canadian airport to achieve their Airport...