Channelling the hope and promise of the New Year, CheapOair.ca has looked into its crystal ball to share some of the top trends that Canadian travellers – and those who book them – need to be aware of.
The rebound of tourism was welcomed back in 2022, having reached 70% of pre-pandemic levels around the worldwide, however, the year was not without its own challenges, as eager travellers were met with staffing issues, long airport waits, and cancelled flights.
Taking into consideration the continuing inflation, fluctuating fuel costs, and global instability, CheapOair.ca anticipates that 2023 will see further surprises for travellers.
According to the online travel agency, here are three top travel expectations Canadians should be aware of:
1. New Domestic and International Flight Routes: Let’s start with some good news: a number of domestic and international airlines are planning to add new national and transatlantic routes to their schedule.
Most Canadian carriers have already announced new routes and increased flight frequency. The increase is, in part, due to markets reopening and travel demand recovering particularly with stronger demand for transatlantic flights.
“We are seeing more airlines be aggressive in launching and promoting new in-demand routes, which help give more options to consumers,” said Daniel Hayter, Senior Product Manager for CheapOair.ca.
2. Rising Airline and Airport Fees: Forecasts for 2023 show that travellers might want to prepare for slightly more expensive flights and fees for the new year. Despite the new routes and frequency listed above, airfare prices are expected to rise moderately for North American flights and further for international destinations. The expected airfare price rises can also be attributed to inflation, rising fuel costs and capacity issues.
Similarly, Canada’s largest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, announced that as of January 1, 2023, Pearson’s aeronautical rates and airport improvement fee (AIF) will increase, which could impact the cost of flight tickets further.
“With the light recession being predicted for early 2023 and the continuing inflation, it stands to reason that rising costs would trickle down to travellers,” says Hayter.
3. European Travel Visa Requirements in Late 2023: As of Nov. 23 2023, Canada citizens will be required to complete a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) application prior to boarding any aircraft, sea carrier, or coach vehicle headed for Europe – this includes travellers who will be passing through or connecting through Europe enroute to their final destination outside of Europe.
ETIAS is being implemented to pre-screen visa-exempt travellers travelling to any of the over 22 Schengen member destinations including France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, and four non-European Union countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Further information on ETIAS and the application form can be found HERE.
“What this means for Canadians,” says Hayter, “is whether you are planning to travel to or even just connect through Europe, you will need to apply for ETIAS and go through the security screening process in advance. While this may seem like a hurdle for travel planners, it is important to note that this will be mandatory.”
Canadians can find up-to-date travel-related guidelines to destinations worldwide via the “Ready for your next trip” section on CheapOair.ca.