Beleaguered Boeing is now telling airlines to inspect switches on pilots’ seats in its 787 Dreamliner jets after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a LATAM Airlines plane flying to New Zealand.
Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced NCL Connect, a new marketing solution designed to boost the sales and marketing efforts of the travel partners through the use of co-brandable “content experiences.” NCL says it is the first contemporary cruise line to do so.
Air Transat is expanding its virtual interlining service with the addition of two new airline partners Pegasus Airlines and Volotea, bringing the total to 14 collaborating airlines and offering access to over 275 additional destinations worldwide.
The WestJet Group has named Diederik Pen as President of WestJet Airlines effective April 1. In adding the title to his current role Chief Operating Officer of the Group, Pen will continue to report to Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group’s Chief Executive Officer.
The federal government says it will host a summit on air accessibility in May amid what it calls “completely unacceptable” barriers to Canadians living with disabilities. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez says airlines have failed to meet the treatment standards that passengers with disabilities deserve, calling for more responsibility from the aviation sector.
Nick Burri clicks into his ski bindings, squats to stretch his knees and scans the snowy racecourse. Moments later, he’s zipping past a series of gates at high speed and hurtling off jumps. But it’s not gravity pulling him toward the finish line: It’s the brute force of a quarter horse named Sirius.
The CEO of United Airlines says that a slew of recent incidents ranging from a panel that fell off a plane to another jet losing a wheel on takeoff will cause the airline to review its safety training for employees. In a memo to customers on Monday, Scott Kirby tried to reassure travellers that safety is the airline’s top priority.
More passengers who were aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet when part of its fuselage blew out in January are suing – including one who says his life was saved by a seat belt.
Air Canada Vacations has strengthened its sales team with several new additions and internal appointments – moves the tour company says “underscore our dedication to building strong partnerships, providing unparalleled support, and driving growth opportunities for the travel community and our travel partners.”
The Sandals Foundation is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week with a vow to remain steadfast in its commitment to improving the lives of people across the Caribbean. Through initiatives focused on education, community development, and environmental conservation, the philanthropic division of the prominent resort chain has positively touched 1.5 million lives since its inception in 2009.
Canadian agents have a chance to share in $450,000 worth of incentives in the 2024 Crystal Grand Challenge, a major promotion launched by the cruise line to celebrate what it calls its “triumphant return to the high seas” and to rewards its top travel advisors, as well as newcomers.
Rocky Mountaineer is looking to the second generation as Tristan Armstrong, son of Founder Peter Armstrong, steps into the role of chief executive officer. The Vancouver-based luxury train company is the largest privately-owned premium tourist train in the world and has hosted 2.3 million guests since it was founded in 1990.
From chocolate to new luxury in London, plus world-class sports and brand-new cultural hubs, there’s no shortage of hot new openings and fresh takes on traditional classics on display in Britain this summer. Here’s a quick look at 10 to-do tips to help a make a visit in 2024 even more memorable.
Another day, another problem for Boeing and United Airlines. On Friday, a post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company.
About 200 food service workers at Vancouver’s airport have voted to take strike action if their demands for pay increases in a first contract are not met. In a media release, Unite Here Local 40 said job action “could disrupt daily airport operations as the spring break and Easter weekend rush approaches.”
The Venom Drop, the world’s longest dry slide at sea, bumper cars and a secret speakeasy are just a few of the highlights awaiting guests aboard MSC Cruises’ 6,762-passenger World Europa.
As Jamaica prepares to host global delegates at the Caribbean’s pre-eminent travel trade event, Caribbean Travel Marketplace, in May, the country’s tourism minister has declared a new benchmark for tourism metrics: 2023. “Normally we talk about 2019 (before the pandemic), as being the benchmark,” Edmund Barlett said during a zoom event ahead of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s 42 annual event. “Now we have changed that. 2023 is the new benchmark for Jamaica’s tourism.”
A volcano in Iceland erupted Saturday evening for the fourth time in three months, sending orange jets of lava into the night sky. No flight disruptions were reported at nearby Keflavik, Iceland’s main airport, but hundreds of people were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions, when the eruption began.
G Adventures will soon be offering an extended program of trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina that are designed to support local communities, while showcasing the Balkan nation’s distinctive culture, nature and heritage.
In this week’s round-up: Accolades (perhaps surprising) for Pearson airport; promising global travel news from UN Tourism, IATA and American Express; plus, mixed financial results from Transat, a new destination for Contiki, and plenty more industry tidbits.
The fundamental changes and likely long-term effects of artificial intelligence on the tourism industry are “underestimated,” says a prominent travel research firm. Speaking at the recent ITB Berlin travel trade show in Germany, Phocuswright Sr. VP. Charuta Fadnis said she could even envision a world where virtual agents replace live ones.
Responding to a US government audit, Boeing said Tuesday that it would work with employees found to have violated company manufacturing procedures to make sure they understand instructions for their jobs.
UN Tourism has released its latest Tourism Visa Openness report on global visa policies, revealing continuous shifts in international travel regulations – and indicating that the world at large has returned to pre-pandemic levels of openness and visa-free travel.
Canadian are making a noteworthy shift towards villa rentals and luxury stays in response to post-Covid dynamics, according to travel advisors polled at First in Service (F1S) as part of a survey focussing on the key and evolving trends shaping the 2024 landscape for luxury stays, villa rentals, and unique lodging options.
Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, long a popular destination for tourists, is closing off some private-property alleys in its famous geisha district because of complaints about misbehaving visitors. Tourists crowd the narrow, quaint streets of the area called Gion, often following tour guides who show people around and lecture for long hours, local district official Isokazu Ota says, adding, “We are going to put up signs in April that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets.”
For many Canadians, no vacation is made complete without adding a sprinkle of adventure to their days in paradise. From history and culture to marine life and picturesque ocean views, the top-selling sun destination of Cuba is full of unique experiences that travellers of all kinds will love and can only get in this beautiful country.
Canadians rank as the second highest global market for anticipated average trip spend and are prioritizing spontaneous, bucket list and once in a lifetime vacations, according to American Express Travel, which has released its annual 2024 Global Travel Trends Report highlighting the inspiration and trends driving global travel bookings this year.
Toronto Pearson has been named the “Best Airport over 40 million passengers in North America” for the sixth time in seven years by Airports Council International (ACI) – World, the global trade representative of the world’s airports. The airport regained the prestigious ranking in 2023 after achieving the honour for five consecutive years between 2017 and 2021, but missing in 2022.
As officials investigate what caused a “strong shake” before a sudden plunge on a plane traveling between Australia and New Zealand, a passenger on Tuesday described a wild ride, with people without seatbelts thrown from their seats and some crashing into the plane’s ceiling.
From FAMs to trade show news, and a pair of prestigious awards to the introduction of a new tech tool for MICE, it’s a busy time in the trade – all aggregated in our weekly retail round-up.