Canada Jetlines (now the late Canada Jetlines) dominated news at the end of last week; but before that, there were airline updates from almost all the major Canadian players, disturbing dispatches about the weather (isn’t there always it seems?), cruise news, a Sandals masterclass update, and much more – all covered in this week’s round-up.
NEWS
Canada Jetlines grounded its planes and ceased operations amid a cash crunch that caused it to become the third Canadian carrier in less than a year to stop flying. The airline, which flew mainly to sun destinations out of Toronto, said it has been unable to find the capital needed to stay afloat and plans to file for creditor protection. Passengers with existing bookings should contact their credit card company to secure refunds, the company said, adding, “Every effort is being made to assist passengers at this time.”
WestJet again said will be issuing flight cancellations “for the foreseeable future” after planes were damaged by a Calgary hailstorm earlier this month, upending travel plans for thousands of passengers. The country’s second-biggest carrier says 16 aircraft, or 10% of its fleet, remain out of commission nine days after the tempest rained down golf ball-sized ice pellets onto parts of southern Alberta, including the province’s largest airport.
Hurricane Ernesto moved away from Bermuda on the weekend to the open waters of the Atlantic after crossing over the tiny British territory early Saturday with heavy rains and strong winds. The Category 1 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and dropped about 20 cm of rain. Ernesto previously battered the northeast Caribbean, where it left tens of thousands of people without power and water in Puerto Rico.
BY THE NUMBERS
With the peak of the hurricane season “right around the corner,” forecasters continue to predict that 2024 will be a highly active hurricane season. Since May, forecasters tweaked the number of expected named storms from 17 to 25 to 17 to 24. Of those named storms, 8 to 13 are still likely to become hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 75 mph, including 4 to 7 major hurricanes with at least 111 mph winds. An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
AIR
Air Canada is further boosted its schedule serving Canada’s capital region with non-stop, international flights from Ottawa to London Heathrow. Flights will be operated four-times weekly with Air Canada’s Dreamliner fleet offering a choice of three cabins beginning March 31, 2025.
Beginning Oct. 16, Porter Airlines will connect Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) with three roundtrips flights per week. The airline has served Thunder Bay from Toronto’s island airport since 2009. The Pearson route will initially operate Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, changing to Tues-Thurs-Sun. on Oct. 27 for the winter.
The Saskatchewan government is investing more than $1 million into a new program that will help train Indigenous pilots in the province. A total of 10 applicants will be chosen to enter the professional pilot training program, which will start this coming January. Students who complete all requirements in the two-year program will be offered jobs as First Officers, allowing them to navigate and operate flights, with Rise Air, a First Nations owned airline that has its headquarters in Saskatoon.
DEALS
To celebrate the return Cubamania, Transat is offering packages from as little as $719 for departures from Montreal, $759 for departures from Toronto, and $1,189 from Halifax to a dozen hand-picked all-inclusive resorts in Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria, Holguín and Varadero.
The offer is valid on new individual bookings made by Aug. 27 for travel through April, 2025. (Exceptions apply). In addition, travel agents can earn 3X BONBON on new bookings of valid packages (minimum seven-night stay, double occupancy) made with Transat Tours Canada. Visit Transat.com for more details.
Through Sept. 2, Princess Cruise Line’s “Better Than Best Price Guarantee” incentive for its 2026 Alaska season offers best rates and 120% of the price difference as an onboard credit if a lower rate is found before final payment.
Swan Hellenic’s “Explore Further” promotion offers flight credits of up to US$850 p.p. balcony stateroom bookings for its 2025 voyages to select destinations, including the Arctic, Mediterranean and South America. Bookings must be made by Oct. 15.
TOURS
Wilderness Travel has announced a brand-new, limited-edition tour of the wilds of Northern Patagonia (photo) with special focus on conservation and exploring three newly established national parks. On the unique 10-day ‘Remote Parks of Patagonia’s Wild North’ itinerary, participants will discover part of Chile’s Route of the Parks, where seven newly created national parks stretch across 1,800 miles of temperate rainforest, active volcanoes, spectacular fjords, and both the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields.
Continuing its ongoing support of the SickKids Foundation, TravelBrands held its annual SickKids Day in Aug. 14, which included a pledge to donate 1% from all sales on that day the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. To date, the company has raised over 1.8 million dollars for SickKids.
HOTELS
Choice Hotels has opened four Cambria Hotels in US destinations. The newly opened properties, located in Niagara Falls, NY; Rehoboth, DE; North Conway, NH; and Denver, CO, join a collection of more than 70 open Cambria Hotels located around the country +.
Amrit Ocean Resort opened in May on Singer Island, Florida, with 155 guest rooms, a spa with integrated health services across four floors, and the only indoor-outdoor Aayush hydrothermal experience of its kind. This health-centric resort in The Palm Beaches, has four food and beverage options, each focusing on health and wellness, including the plant-based restaurant “AYRE” by Celebrity Chef Matthew Kenney.
RESORTS
Sandals is reminding travel advisors that its Masterclass webinar series is still in session with several classes still to come in 2024. The two-hour live sessions are led by national training manager Lorna Richards and regional BDMs and offer agents key strategies to help drive growth in their Sandals and Beaches Resorts business. They also count towards Sandals Specialist status and CITC/CTM accreditation. Remaining dates include Aug. 29 – Ontario; Sept. 5 – Quebec (French); Sept. 10 – Manitoba; and Sept. 18 – Alberta. To register for an ENGLISH Masterclass click HERE. To regiter for the French Masterclass on Sept. 5, click HERE. Or contact your local Business Development Manager or Inside Sales 1-800-545-8283 for additional information.
In Anguilla, Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, has unveiled a new spa in collaboration with Guerlain. The secluded wellness paradise is a haven of relaxation, where guests can experience a collection of Guerlain rituals exclusive to the iconic resort and inspired by Anguilla’s earliest inhabitants, the Indigenous Arawak tribe, who are known for their deep connection to nature and their rich tradition of spiritual and communal life.
CRUISE
Bookings will open Sept. 12 for Disney Destiny, the new “heroes and villains” themed Disney Cruise Line ship that will launch from Port Everglades, Florida (Fort Lauderdale) in November 2025. Sister ship to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, the Destiny will sail four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean, including visits to one or both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members can book a Disney Destiny cruise as early as Sept. 6.
Crystal has launched a new booking engine. The cruise line say its innovative platform is designed to streamline the booking experience for travel advisors, offering “unparalleled ease of use, advanced features, and robust support tailored to meet the needs of today’s travel professionals. That includes an intuitive user interface, real time availability, personalized recommendations, and more.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
In June 2026, the Universal Kids Resort will open as company’s first-ever theme park specifically designed for families with young children (maximum age 10). Located in Frisco, Texas, a city located about 40 km north of Dallas, it will also feature a 300-room hotel.
EVENTS
On Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. EST, ACTA will host the webinar, ‘Power in Partnership: How Sabre Helps Agencies Adopt NDC,’ giving an introduction to Sabre’s approach with NDC including its content and capabilities. Included is a live demonstration by Sabre staff, plus further information and a Q and A. Register here
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Intrepid Travel announced the appointment of Payton Iheme to the newly created role of Chief Impact Officer. Based in Washington DC, Iheme will lead Intrepid’s global sustainability and impact initiatives as well as its not-for-profit Intrepid Foundation. She will report to Intrepid Travel’s CEO, James Thornton.
DESTINATIONS
In contrast to other over-baked destinations and taking advantage of average summer temperatures of 17.8 °C and 13.1 °C in August and September respectively, Vilnius, Lithuania is encouraging visitor to take a “coolcation” with such entertainment as hot air balloon flights over the city centre (photo), various cultural festivals (theatre, jazz), and Gastronomy Week showcasing newly awarded Michelin restaurants, and one of the world’s top auto museum.
One of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions, known as “The Bean,” has reopened to the public after nearly a year of renovations and construction. Construction started in August last year and fencing around the iconic sculpture limited closeup access to visitors. The bean-shaped sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor is formally known as “Cloud Gate” and weighs 99.8 metric tons. It’s a busy tourist hub near Michigan Avenue, particularly for selfies with its reflective surface inspired by liquid mercury. Views of skyscrapers and crowds are reflected on the Millenium Park sculpture.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1929, the German dirigible “Graf Zeppelin” began a round-the-world flight, which was completed Sept. 4.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com