Destinations
Air Transat, WestJet Cooperating On Transatlantic Codeshare
Air Transat and WestJet have agreed to cooperate on a codeshare that will soon allow customers to book transatlantic travel involving both carriers on a single ticket with through-checked bags. The cooperation will bring more choice to consumers by enabling transatlantic codeshare connections above and beyond what the carriers offer with their own flights. Annick Guérard, president and CEO of Transat, said: “We are very excited to join forces with WestJet in what I am sure will be a successful collaboration. This agreement is a first milestone in our strategy to grow and...
WestJet Expanding Network To Include Calgary-Heathrow
WestJet will be adding non-stop service to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) beginning early Spring 2022. As the carrier continues to increase global connectivity from Western Canada, the addition of non-stop service between Calgary and London-Heathrow signals confidence in the recovery of business and leisure travel between both destinations. John Weatherill, chief commercial officer for WestJet, said that: “As the airline with the most flights from Alberta, this is an important recovery milestone as we forge new connections between Canada and one of the world's most sought after...
Air Canada Exiting Canadian Government Financial Support
With an improved liquidity position and the ongoing recovery from the pandemic, Air Canada says it is withdrawing from further government of Canada financial support. The support package, announced in April 2021, provided the carrier access to interest bearing loans of $5.375 billion through several separate credit facilities. To date, Air Canada has only accessed the facility solely dedicated to refunding customers' non-refundable tickets, while all other remaining facilities totaling $3.975 billion have not been used. Air Canada’s president and chief executive officer, Michael...
UPDATE: PCR Tests Dumped For 72 Hour Trips By Canadians
Canada’s Health Minister, Jean-Yves Duclos announced that effective Nov. 30, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals with right of entry to Canada who depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving Canada will not have to present a pre-entry molecular test. The Health Minister emphasized that this exemption is only for trips originating in Canada taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act, who depart and re-enter by land or by air and can demonstrate that they have been away from Canada for less than 72...
Trio Of Partners Launch Rail + Roam Campaign
South Eastern Ontario is teaming up with VIA Rail and Landsby to heat up the winter season by offering exclusive new Rail + Roam packages that encourage travellers to ride the rails and safely explore well-known gems, best-kept secrets and off-the-beaten-path adventures across the region. From now until March 15, 2022, Rail + Roam allows locals and visitors alike to indulge in a wide array of culinary, adventure and wellness-themed experiences that can be booked through www.landsby.ca/rail-and-roam/. These experiences offer unique ways to get out and soak in the small-city...
Caribbean Welcoming Winter Rebound
The president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is predicting that the region’s tourism sector will flourish this winter. With strong health protocols in place and the increase in air service to several destinations across the region, the CHTA’s president Nicola Madden-Greig is optimistic about the outlook despite an especially difficult 2020 season as stakeholders battled with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Said Madden-Greig: “The worst of it has been contained.” And she attributed the Caribbean’s success in containing the virus to sound...
Indigenous Tourism Alberta Set For Third Annual Summit
Indigenous Tourism Alberta (ITA) will be hosting its third annual Alberta Indigenous Tourism Summit (AITS 2021) at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, located on the Tsuut’ina Nation in Calgary, Alberta from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26, 2021. AITS brings together up to 300 Indigenous tourism operators, entrepreneurs and industry partners to learn and share their collective knowledge to contribute to the success of Alberta’s rapidly growing Indigenous tourism industry. Shae Bird, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Alberta, said that: “Over the last year, we have seen a significant interest in...
FCTG Strengthens Its Leisure Leadership Team
The Flight Centre Travel Group has strengthened its global leadership team in the leisure travel sector, announcing that Andrew Stark -- the company’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) -- has been named to the newly created role of global managing director for the flagship Flight Centre leisure brand effective Feb. 1, 2022. Stark will relocate from South Africa with his family and be based in Brisbane, overseeing the Flight Centre brand in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada. He’ll report to Melanie Waters-Ryan, FLT’s...