With temperatures feeling like 40-plus degrees across large parts of Ontario and Quebec this week, and the world at large posting its highest daily temperature ever, it was definitely getting dirty and gritty in the cities. So, envy to those on holiday, or working (sure!) on the dock at the cottage – or better still, legitimately sipping a cocktail there, toes dangling in the cool water. Sigh.
Will travellers to Antarctica soon be packing bathing suits? It may seem far-fetched, but on Tuesday the planet’s temperature spiked to its hottest day in at least 44 years – and likely much longer – and Wednesday was set to be the third straight day Earth unofficially marked a record-breaking high.
A powerful summer storm lashed the Netherlands and parts of Germany on Wednesday, killing at least two people, blowing trees onto houses, and forcing one of Europe’s busiest airports to cancel or delay hundreds of flights.
PAL Airlines and Air Canada completed the inaugural PAL Airlines operation of an Air Canada Express flight between St. John’s and Halifax. The inaugural section on July 1 was the first flight operated under a newly completed commercial agreement achieved between the two carriers to fortify regional service in eastern Canada.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) plans to launch a pilot for dedicated Verified Traveller screening lines at Ottawa International Airport and Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
United Airlines says when flights are delayed or cancelled it will use its app to send customers options for rebooking and, in some cases, vouchers for meals and hotel rooms. The airline began testing the service on its app late last year and says it found that it reduced the number of people waiting in airports lines to speak to airline agents.
This year’s ACTA Fall Summits will feature Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of G Adventures (who was named an Officer of the Order of Canada this year) and Pam Hoffee, President, Avalon Waterways, as keynote speakers at the association’s events in Western and Eastern Canada respectively.
Visitors and locals alike were invited to open their pie holes, literally, this week as the Florida Keys celebrated its bicentennial Monday with a world-recording breaking Key lime pie more than 4 metres in diameter.
Bruce Poon Tip says he is truly “humbled” by being appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his services to both Canada and humanity – endeavours the G Adventures founder calls his “calling.”
Nearly 2,000 Air Canada flights – roughly half of all flights – were delayed or cancelled over the Canada Day long weekend. The figures from aviation tracker FlightAware included Rouge and regional partner Jazz Aviation for the period from Saturday through Monday.
WestJet has announced the addition of the B in ABC islands of the Dutch Caribbean ¬– Bonaire – to its roster of Caribbean destinations with non-stop seasonal weekly departures from Toronto starting Dec. 12.
Calling the post-pandemic surge in travel a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Canada’s visitor economy to push past reviving all the way to thriving and successfully competing on the global stage, Ottawa has unveiled a new tourism plan it says will help cement Canada as a top global destination while propelling the tourism industry to, “reach new heights for generations to come.”
The current Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is showcasing some serious star power. Over the course of 10 days, world-renowned artists including Diana Krall, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant & Alison Krause, Melody Gardot, Herbie Hancock and George Benson will rub shoulders with jazz’s rising stars, sometimes even sharing the same stage. Many established artists are performing at the Festival for the first time and jazz is more prominent than ever on both indoor and outdoor Festival stages.
Longer vacations, less overpacking, more small ship cruising, and an uptick in bleisure travel are the post-pandemic behaviours the world’s most experienced travellers are revealing, according to a recent survey by Global Rescue.
Tourism spending in Canada grew 2.6% in the first quarter, due to an increase of 3.5% in domestic tourism spending by Canadian residents, according to Statistics Canada. Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) (+2.3%) and jobs attributable to tourism (+2.7%) also rose in the first quarter.
After almost a week, unrest in France sparked by the police shooting of a 17-year-old appeared to slow, but fires and vandalism continued to target public buildings, cars, and municipal trash cans on Monday.
As United Airlines cancelled thousands of July 4th weekend flights, leaving passengers stranded in airports around the country for days, airline CEO Scott Kirby, with an inexplicable lack of judgement and no thought as to the optics or consequences, reportedly chartered a private jet from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver. He did this on Wednesday, the same day United cancelled 750 flights — one-quarter of the day’s schedule – not including flights on United Express. Kirby apologized Friday, saying “It was insensitive to our customers waiting to get home.” No kidding.
U.S. customs pre-clearance is coming to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), but travellers bound for destinations south of the border will have to wait until 2025 to take advantage of the expedited serviced at the downtown (island) airport.
After more than six year’s of planning, Canada’s newest museum opened the doors to its permanent location in Vancouver’s Chinatown on July 1 – a date that museum executives say serves as a poignant reminder of a part of Canada’s history that has often been overlooked.
Thousands of hotel workers in Southern California walked off the job on Sunday, demanding higher pay and better benefits in what the union is calling the largest strike in its history.
While there was more air travel disruptions in US last week, and smoke got in our eyes here at home, emerging Canadian travel stats continued to be positive, while car rental rates news was less so. Also in the news: A welcome new flight to Ottawa, launch news for Porter, and a surprise departure from Lynx.
Lynx Air has announced the resignation of its President and CEO, Merren McArthur, who is leaving for personal reasons. McArthur is the founding CEO of Lynx Air, having joined the airline in June 2021, leading the airline to its first flight launch in April 2022. She will continue in the role until the end of September, allowing time for the selection and appointment of a new CEO.
For the first time, an international cruise ship will sail the waters of the Saint Lawrence in the heart of winter when PONANT’s Commandant Charcot, with some 200 winter activity enthusiasts aboard, will make four 12-night sailings between late January and early March 2025.
As Canadians gear up to celebrate Canada Day on Saturday, CheapOair.ca got to thinking about the most unique Canadian attractions that have earned worldwide attention. And with its self-declared mission to “educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in planning their travel accommodations,” the online travel agency asked its staff to select their most iconic Canadian attractions from the north to the south, east to west and all points in between.
The Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), a trailblazer of Canada’s culinary tourism industry, is set to serve up the “Great Taste of Canada,” an ultimate field guide to mouthwatering eats, hands-on food experiences, and unique tastes across the nation. “More than just maple syrup and poutine (though there certainly is that), Canada’s food scene is a true smorgasbord of gastronomic journeys, shaped by the rich history, heritage, and cultures across the country,” says CTA.
A new world-class aquarium will open in Montreal in 2024 with the aim of educating visitors and “inspiring future generations to become advocates for our wildlife and wild places.”
Vancouver is certainly known for its bridges, but the one we’re most enamoured of is Bridges restaurant and patio, found on Granville Island, overlooking fabulous False Creek, the city skyline, and the mountains of the north shore.
As we get set to turn the volume to 11 on Canada Day, it’s only fitting that we offer a little classic Canadiana for your listening/viewing pleasure. And who can forget the Calgary-based trio The Stampeders – perhaps the only band that could use the word macaroons in a song and get away with it?
Travellers south of the border got hit with delays at US airports again Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.
Canada Jetlines says it is on schedule to add another aircraft that will allow it to fly to Europe next summer, but not before it operates “numerous charters” to Greenland this summer.