Canadians are slowly returning to U.S. travel. Returns to this country by residents surged in May, up 9.5% year over year, building on a bump in April that had ended a 15-month slump, according to Statistic Canada data. In May, Canadian-resident return trips from the United States totalled 1.9 million, driven by an increase in return trips by automobile (+15.1%).
Air Canada announced its customer service employees ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement with Unifor applies to about 6,000 employees across contact centres, customer relations, concierges and other business segments.
Spanish carrier Iberia officially launched its new direct route between Toronto and Madrid on Saturday. The new route will operate five times per week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – and offer more than 37,000 seats during the summer season.
One of the most anticipated cultural openings in the country, the long-awaited Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago is set to open to the public on June 19 with a full slate on opening weekend activities.
As the federal government lays out the groundwork for the country’s journey into AI, the effects of the emergent technology are already being felt in the country’s workplaces.
A round-up of 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.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Fifteen years ago when I wrote about Dina Bertolo’s (first) retirement from Thomas Cook North America, I dubbed her “Queen Dina” – a name that not surprisingly stuck. But just when she thought she was out, the travel industry, as it does, pulled her back in, and another dozen eventful years at Air Canada Vacations ensued.
Soaring fuel prices and a halt of all of its flights to Cuba pushed Transat A.T. Inc. earnings deep into loss territory last quarter, as global strife continues to damage airlines’ bottom lines.
Sleep on a long-haul flight in economy class has always been a fantasy for many travellers. Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed wearing special socks.
With his shock of golden hair and trim 700-kilogram build, “Donald Trump” has been drawing crowds from across Bangladesh since he arrived at the national zoo in early June. The rare albino buffalo became a sensation when a farmer noticed that his blond tuft of hair resembled the distinctive locks of the U.S. president.
Prime Minister Mark Carney insisted says there is “no big drama” surrounding the status of the Gordie Howe International Bridge – but it may take longer to open than anticipated. The Prime Minister had said Tuesday that the second bridge between Windsor and Detroit would “be open at the end of the week.”
IATA’s latest financial outlook for the global airline industry shows a halving of profitability as a result of war-related Middle East disruptions and high fuel prices – so much so that carrier per passenger profits wouldn’t even cover the cost of a hot dog at a FIFA World Cup game, says the association’s boss.
As the FIFA World Cup kicks off today (June 11) Sports Illustrated magazine says Vancouver is the best of 16 cities hosting World Cup matches, citing transportation, walkability and mild weather for topping its ranking list released this month. In fact, both Canadian host cities fared well on the list, with Toronto ranking No. 3, just after Seattle.
No Cuba, no problem. Sunwing Vacations has unveiled its Winter 2026-27 schedule, offering Canadians plenty of sun choices next winter, including favourites like Cancun, Punta Cana and Montego Bay, as well as new winter vacations from Toronto to Acapulco, Winnipeg to Puerto Plata and Montreal to Cozumel.
An Air Canada flight attendant got a thrill last week when she gifted pop superstar Rihanna a beaded lanyard from her Mohawk community south of Montreal.
The federal government has offered a loan lifeline to airlines struggling to cope with the soaring price of jet fuel, garnering a mixed response from the country’s carriers. The new program will let airlines borrow up to $150 million each, as fallout from the Iran war forces them to slash flight schedules and cut profit forecasts.
Goway has named Dean Moore as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, marking a new chapter for founder Bruce Hodge, who will remain as President and Chairman and continue to oversee Goway’s subsidiary corporate travel division, Globespan Travel Management.
WestJet and Icelandair have signed a reciprocal codeshare agreement offering travellers on both sides of the Atlantic enhanced access to a broader network of destinations with the ease of a single booking and ticket, as well as through checked baggage.
This week: ACTA agents discovered Los Cabos, while three other ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ winners road-tripped in Nevada; First in Service (F1S) announced summit dates; Crystal takes a new Approach; and Trafalgar introduces a river cruise booking incentive.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Every year, Saint Lucia’s Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa does “a ton” of enhancements to ensure the popular all-inclusive remains fresh for guests, and this year is no exception. During the resort’s annual fall closing, CBBR will totally renovate its family side – the Splash wing – following 2025’s makeover of the adult’s-only Harmony side.
Alberta’s government is eyeing train connections between airports and the downtown cores of its two biggest cities as the first key projects in its new passenger rail plan. But construction isn’t expected to start any time soon and the first users will likely have to wait about 30 years.
The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife and three other individuals, in the latest move by the Trump administration to pressure the island’s leadership that drew immediate condemnation from Havana.
Porter Airlines has officially joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a member, a milestone reflecting the airline’s rapid growth and its deepening integration with the global aviation community.
By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ An expected group of 300 agents and supplier partners across Goway’s roster of 20-plus destinations in Asia is convening today (Tuesday) at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, at the tour company’s inaugural Asia Forum, reflecting just how popular the region is right now for travellers, says Goway VP for Asia, Moira Smith.
Metropolitan Montreal Airport – “MET” – will officially open its new terminal next week (June 15). Upon its opening, the terminal will host operations for Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering flights connecting Canadian destinations from coast to coast. The terminal will also be able to accommodate other airlines in the future.
Air Transat and Iberia have entered a new interline partnership with Iberia, further expanding the Canadian carrier’s footprint in Spain and enhancing travel options for its customers. The agreement enables Air Transat passengers to connect via Madrid (MAD) to over 20 destinations including Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Ibiza (IBZ), Tenerife (TFN and TFS) and Alicante (ALC).
A massive coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing growing resistance from protesters in Albania. Police fired water cannon and clashed with protesters last week and thousands continued to oppose the plan on the weekend in the capital, Tirana.
On a day that a defiant Cuba Tourist Board declared the country “open for global business,” including transitioning hotels to Cuban brands, Sunwing Vacations Group declared that it had made the “difficult decision” to indefinitely suspend all its Cuba operations until further notice.
With the stroke of a pen, Air Canada has signed an agreement designed to further “unlock the Americas” through a strategic partnership with the parent company of Avianca and GOL airlines.
Air Transat says it has enough fuel to maintain normal operations throughout the summer season. The message of reassurance further comes with enhanced flexibility conditions for clients applicable to its Eco Standard and Club Standard fares for a limited time.