STRANDED: Canadians fear ‘indefinite’ stays in war-torn Middle East by Staff Writer-Canadians stranded by flight cancellations in the Middle East since U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran sparked an escalating conflict say they now face an indefinite wait, with one traveller calling on the government to do more to help them get home.
A RED LETTER DAY FOR ROUGE: Carrier welcomes first updated 737 Max aircraft by Staff Writer-Air Canada’s first of 45 updated Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft has entered service at Rouge, marking the latest step in the carrier’s comprehensive cabin renewal program across the fleet. The rest of the aircraft are expected to transition to Rouge by the end of the year.
UNDERSTANDING AIRCRAFT DE-ICING: How it works and why it matters by Staff Writer-Most passengers boarding a flight on a cold winter morning don’t give much thought to the trucks and equipment moving around their aircraft. Among them are de-icing teams – carrying out a procedure that is absolutely essential to flight safety in cold weather.
CRUISES CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE by Wallace Immen-By Wallace Immen/ With the Middle East conflict spreading at an epidemic rate, cruise lines are scrambling to avoid disruption and planning far ahead to steer clear of an epic storm. Some were caught in the crosshairs. Three cruise ships in the United Arab Emirates cancelled upcoming sailings.
LISTENING IN: War, what is it good for? Answer – ‘Absolutely nothing!’ by Michael Baginski-By Michael Baginski/ Good God, ya’ll, we first ran this song when Russia invaded Ukraine – almost four years ago to the day. That one is still going on. Now we have Iran and its hard not to wonder if a similar tragic trajectory will ensue. Either way, the song remains the same.
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CANADA SECURES LIMITED SEATS FROM LEBANON by Staff Writer-Ottawa says it has secured "a limited number of seats" on commercial flights out of Lebanon for Canadians trying to flee the region, though the government is not offering assisted departures.
STAYING THE COURSE: Majority of Mexico-bound Canadians brush off violent outbreak by Staff Writer-While a big chunk of Canadians who were dreaming of fun in the Mexican sun are now rebooking their trips elsewhere after violence erupted in parts of the country last month, even more plan to stay the course, according to a new poll.
MORE WOES FOR BELEAGUERED CUBA by Staff Writer-A blackout hit the western half of Cuba on Wednesday, leaving millions of people in Havana and beyond without power in the latest outage to affect an island struggling with dwindling oil reserves and a crumbling electric grid. At the same time, another critical international airline said it was suspending service to the beleaguered island.
SPAIN SETS TOURISM RECORD (AGAIN): Plus new Canadian podcast by Staff Writer-Spain set a new tourism record in 2025 when it welcomed 96.8 million foreign visitors, according to figures released by the National Statistics Institute. The number of international visitors increased 3.2% compared to 2024, when there were 94 million tourists.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY by Staff Writer-Trinidad and Tobago declared a new state of emergency Tuesday, only about a month after the end of the previous one, as authorities in the Caribbean nation continue to grapple with high levels of violent crime.
CAPE TOWN IN TWO KEYS: Oceanfront seclusion and urban heritage by Cindy-Lou Dale-By Cindy-Lou Dale/ Cape Town, South Africa’s appeal lies in its range: mountain, ocean, heritage districts, and a food culture rooted in local identity. Consider two unique hotels – contrasting but complimentary – from which the city unfolds in manageable, memorable chapters: walkable neighbourhoods, historic sites, and signature culinary experiences, each adding depth to a stay that blends relaxation with meaningful exploration.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: Colorado feeling festive in 2026 by Michael Baginski-By Michael Baginski/ Colorado is set to double down on the festivities this year: not only is the Rocky Mountain state celebrating America 250, the country’s 250th anniversary, but the state has its own 150th birthday on the calendar.
GOWAY SEES GROWTH IN GROUPS, EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM by Staff Writer-Coming off a record year, Goway is expanding its GroupsOnly leadership team and holding a sweepstakes for travel advisors in February. The tour company saw 25% growth in sales and 100 groups bookings made in December alone.
MEASLES OUTBREAK IN MEXICO, WORLD CUP RISK by Staff Writer-The Mexican state of Jalisco has issued a health alert as a measles outbreak hit the state capital, Guadalajara, a key host city for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
ROUND-UP: Jan. 5-9, 2026 by Jen Savedra-News nuggets, airlines, hotels/resorts, cruising, tours, events, FAMS/incentives, deals, destinations and more are covered in our weekly round-up of travel industry news you may have missed.
