Destinations
Sunwing Taking Off From Halifax To Varadero
Sunwing is expanding its flight service from Halifax to Varadero, Cuba. Beginning in March, Sunwing will be offering East Coast residents another weekly flight on Thursdays starting on March 10, 2022 until April 28, 2022. Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations for Sunwing, said: “As the only Atlantic Canada gateway offering flights to Cuba this winter, we’re thrilled to be introducing another flight from Halifax to Varadero for our customers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to enjoy.” And Dawson added: “As a Canadian favourite and easy entry...
Remove The Roadblocks
At an event in Calgary, the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable continue to call on the federal government to remove pre-departure testing entirely. It was joined in its call by medical and local business leaders to urge the removal of the restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers on or before April 1 when the regulations will be updated. And it notes that continued testing targeted at solely the travel sector is both unnecessary and not rooted in science. While the federal government took a step in the right direction by altering the testing regime around travel, its...
Canada Bans Russian Airlines From Its Airspace
Canada banned Russian aircraft operators from its airspace on Feb. 27 as a further response to the Russian Federations invasion of Ukraine. The move was announced by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly and it sees Canada prohibiting the operation of Russian-owned, chartered or operated aircraft in Canadian airspace, including in the airspace above Canada’s territorial waters. This airspace closure too effect immediately on its announcement and is to remain in effect until further notice. In making the announcement, Transport Minister...
Testing Changes A Step In The Right Direction
With the federal government’s changes to testing requirements coming into effect today (Feb. 28, 2022), The National Airlines Council of Canada’s (NACC) interim president and CEO, Suzanne Acton-Gervais said that: “Canadians looking to reconnect with family and loved ones can do so with a little less confusion and complexity starting today.” In a statement, Acton-Gervais noted that: “As of Feb. 28, air travellers will be given the option to use either a rapid antigen test or a molecular PCR test to meet pre-entry requirements. Providing flexibility in acceptable...
Bella Coola Heli Sports Earns World’s Best Status
Bella Coola Heli Sports (BCHS) has once again topped the World Ski Awards, earning a fifth-consecutive nod as the World’s Best Heli Ski Operation. BCHS first started operations in the sprawling BC backcountry in 2003, and was first crowned best in the world at the 2017 edition of the awards. BCHS boasts the world’s largest heli-sports tenure — 3.55 million acres of terrain stretching from the northern fjords and mountains of Bella Coola southeast to Mt. Waddington, the highest peak in the province. It is accessible to a wide range of lodging facilities in the heart of the Coast...
Ireland Welcomes Air Canada Flights
Irish eyes were certainly smiling following Air Canada’s announcement that it was launching an expanded Summer 2022 international schedule with 34 routes relaunching across the Atlantic and Pacific, including Vancouver to Dublin (June 1) and Montreal to Dublin (June 2). Sandra Moffatt, Manager, Tourism Ireland, Canada, said that: “In a clear sign that international travel is back, we are excited with the news of Air Canada’s resumption of direct routes from Montreal and Vancouver to Dublin. 2022 now sees five direct gateways across Canada and we look forward to welcoming...
TICO Board Approves Compensation Fund Claims
TICO’s Board of Directors has approved a total of 82 claims against the Ontario Travel Compensation Fund totaling $134,324.99 to assist 149 consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. The claims were approved between December 2021 and February 2022. On Feb. 22, 2022, TICO’s Board of Directors approved 39 claims totaling $68,281.24 to assist 66 consumers who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. The approved Ontario Travel Compensation Fund claims are as follows: Fly Jamaica Airways - 20 claims to assist 35 consumers,...
Jamaica Updates Travel Protocols
Beginning March 1, 2022, international visitors to Jamaica will no longer be required to obtain travel authorization to enter the island. Travellers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel. Additionally, travellers to Jamaica will no longer face travel-related quarantine measures. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett said that: “Eliminating travel-related quarantines and the need for travellers to fill out and receive approval of the Travel Authorization...