Air travel to and through the US got more miserable last year, if the number of consumer complaints filed with the US government is any measure. The US Transportation Department said Friday that it received nearly 97,000 complaints in 2023, up from about 86,000 the year before. The department said there were so many complaints that it took until July to sort through the filings and compile the figures.
Luxury travellers are making some surprising choices this season as they shake off inflation and seek out cultural immersion, new experiences, and ways to beat the heat and the crowds. What’s more, they’re willing to pay to get exactly the experience they want, according to luxury and experiential travel specialist Virtuoso.
As the Bahamas’ Atlantis Paradise Island resort celebrates its 25th anniversary, the iconic pink property – called by some the Disney of Nassau – has completed a US$150-million resort-wide top-to-bottom transformation, including updates to the casino, guestrooms, restaurants and lounges.
New figures show that Scotland experienced a record-breaking influx of international visitors in 2023, welcoming 3.9 million tourists, marking a 15% increase from 2019. The 2023 International Passenger Survey by the Office of National Statistics showed a significant 23% increase from 2022, which saw 3.2 million visitors, and the previous record was set in 2018 with 3.7 million visitors.
Hurricane Beryl dominated the news cycle last week, leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, all the way to Mexico; in Canada, WestJet continued to cancel flights as it recovered from a strike by its mechanics. Other Round-Up items include a new air transport agreement between Canada and Argentina, new planes for Air Canada and a name for the newest Seabourn ship; and G Adventures announced one last chance to win Taylor Swift tickets for Toronto (note: deadline is July 10).
Canadian airlines typically don’t get no respect from many Canadians, as Rodney Dangerfield would say. But how do others see our airlines? Well, they’re not as bad as you might think, at least according to the Skytrax, which recently revealed its annual World Airlines Awards for 2024, otherwise known as the “Oscars of the aviation industry.” So, who are the best this year, and how did we (Canada) do? Read on, you’ll be surprised – and impressed.
WestJet says its operations have “stabilized” after a strike by its mechanics and that no further cancellations are expected as of today (Friday) after eight on Thursday and 30 on Wednesday. The airline says the total number of cancellations due to the strike was 1,171 in just over a week after about 680 workers walked off the job June 28.
Stung by past failures to prepare for hurricanes, the Mexican government on Wednesday began evacuating even sea turtle eggs from beaches ahead of Hurricane Beryl, which was expected to arrive early Friday. Given that Mexico did so little to warn or evacuate residents of the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco during Hurricane Otis in October, this time around officials are being extra cautious, digging up recently laid carey sea turtle eggs for fear they could be washed away by the storm surge.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) announces expanded distribution of its Visitor Toll Pass at Orlando International Airport (MCO) with additional pick up and drop off locations in Terminals A, B and C. An alternative to costly rental car toll programs, Visitor Toll Pass is a free temporary toll pass for rental car customers travelling roundtrip through the airport.
One way to help tell how a Tyrannosaurus rex digested food is to look at its poop. Bone fragments in a piece of fossilized excrement at a new museum in northern Arizona – aptly called the Poozeum – are among the tinier bits of evidence that indicate T. rex wasn’t much of a chewer, but rather swallowed whole chunks of prey.
Let’s add it up: As Crystal Symphony with 600 aboard sailed into Mykonos harbour, she’s joined by Odyssey of the Seas carrying about 4,100 and Celestyal Journey, with another 1,260. Several tourist ferries are also unloading throngs eager to squeeze shoulder-to-shoulder along the narrow laneways of white-stucco Mykonos Town.
Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup helped invent rock ‘n’ roll. His 1946 song “That’s All Right,” would become the first single Elvis Presley ever released. Rod Stewart would sing it on a chart-topping album and Led Zeppelin would play it live. But despite being dubbed “the father of rock ‘n’ roll,” Crudup received scant songwriting royalties in his lifetime because of a recording contract that funneled the money to his original manager.
Canadians in the Caribbean scrambled to get out of harm’s way as Hurricane Beryl tore through the region Wednesday, bearing down on Jamaica, which declared a state of emergency and closed its airports. The Category 4 storm has killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean, including Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.
Travelling to or through the US this weekend? Best to pack some patience as federal officials expect air-travel records to fall as Americans turn the timing of July Fourth on a Thursday into a four-day – or longer – holiday weekend.
The European Commission on Wednesday approved Lufthansa’s takeover of Italian airline ITA with conditions to protect competition in a deal that Italy’s finance minister called “historic.” Lufthansa will invest 325 million euros (US$350 million) to acquire a 41 percent stake in ITA, formerly Alitalia, from the Italian government, gaining full control by 2033 with a total investment of 829 million euros.
A busy week in the neighbourhood: In this week’s Round-Up, TDC treated top owners to a Me cruise; TTAND earned plaudits from Playa Hotels; Direct Travel agents received prestigious nominations; a milestone anniversary for redtag.ca; F1S expanded into the UK; and appointments at the Travel Leaders and Travel Edge networks, as well as TRAVELSAVERS Canada.
Coinciding with Canada Day, Windstar Cruises has unveiled a new Canada-centred booking process designed order to provide better service and value for Canadian guests and the travel advisors who serve them. Canadians can also sail on select cruises for up to 30% off in Iceland, the Mediterranean, and French Polynesia.
Bhutan is booming – at least by its own standards – having doubled in the first quarter the year, compared to a year before. Moreover, March was the third busiest month for tourism to the Himalayan nation since the country’s post-pandemic re-opening, though the highwater mark still only saw just over 16,600 arrivals in May, 2023.
SeaWorld Orlando is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this summer with a host of new attractions and shows, plus a free beer (through July 26) at the Waterway Patio Grill, Marc Swanson, CEO of United Parks & Resorts noting that the latter is “a small token of our deep appreciation for all our guests as we celebrate 60 years of creating enriching, animal care experiences, exhilarating rides and all-around fun for everyone.”
On a warm Wednesday this month, a cartoon raccoon raised a cocktail glass and sarcastically saluted Air Canada. The social media image, posted by Porter Airlines, included an accompanying toast from the character: “Air Canada has now joined Porter in offering free beer, wine and snacks to all passengers. Thanks for joining our mission to help everyone actually enjoy economy!”
Hurricane Beryl is roaring through open waters as a monstrous Category 5 storm heading toward Jamaica after earlier making landfall in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least four people. A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and for Haiti’s entire southern coast.
After a wild weekend of flight cancellations and stranded passengers caused by WestJet mechanics going on strike on Friday, ACTA is urging the airline to fairly compensate travel advisors for their “countless hours” working on behalf of clients during the disruption – which was resolved by Monday, though more cancellations were expected this week as the airline re-engages its fleet.
A new air transport agreement between Canada and Argentina promises to increase air service between the two countries. The arrangement updates and expands policies negotiated in 1979 and goes into effect immediately. Argentina is Canada’s second-oldest travel market in South America, after Peru.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport will receive an $18-million upgrade to its international connections facility – improvements that officials hope will attract more international flights to the Nova Scotia facility.
Intrepid Travel is launching a new trip range dedicated to rail travel that includes 40 trips and three brand new itineraries. The travel company says the tours will cater to the rising trends of both slow and train travel, with new data showing 75% of travellers are hoping to take a train on their next trip.
Registration is open for the 68th annual Skal Toronto and Skal North Toronto Golf Tournament, which will take place Aug. 28 at the Royal Ontario Golf Club. The tournament is open to anyone including tourism, hospitality and travel Industry members along with Skal members.
WestJet has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend. However, the airline has warned that there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service.
Hurricane Beryl began pounding the southeast Caribbean on Monday as a powerful Category 4 storm after becoming the earliest storm of that strength to form in the Atlantic, fuelled by record warm waters. Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as thousands of people hunkered down in homes and shelters. The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.
A strike by screening officers at Toronto Pearson continues to be “on the table” after 95 percent of nearly 3,000 workers rejected a tentative agreement with their employer, according to reporting from the Toronto Star. The Canadian Airport Workers Union, which had reached a tentative deal on June 21 with Garda World Security, said it hopes to return to bargaining soon.
This summer, all eyes will be on Paris as the city prepares to host the Olympic Games (July 26-Aug. 11). But France is the world’s top tourist destination for a reason: there’s no end of opportunities for things to discover in the City of Light and beyond. From summer wellness retreats and ritzy beach clubs to private sailings through the vast, marshy wetland of the Camargue, here’s what not to miss when planning a trip, and where to stay (including recommendations from Transat) while doing do.