AIRLINE TRAFFIC NEARS FULL RECOVERY

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the post-COVID recovery momentum continued in June for passenger markets with total traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rising 31.0% compared to June 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 94.2% of pre-COVID levels.

SAILS FOR SALE: MSC opens book on 2024/25 season

MSC Cruises has opened sales for its winter 2024/25 season with more than 150 global sailings now available to book. Six ships will serve the Caribbean Sea, while the MSC World Europe will sail the Mediterranean, and MSC Euribia undertakes a new deployment in the Middle East.

BRITISH AIRWAYS NDC CONTENT NOW LIVE ON TRAVELPORT

New Distribution Capability content from British Airways is now live on the Travelport+ platform, enabling the carrier to give simplified access to NDC content to agents, so that travel retailers can easily book and service NDC offers for their customers.

MORE MINION MAYHEM AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

Minion Land on Illumination Avenue will officially open to guests this week (Aug. 11) at Universal Studios Florida. Previously open in preview, the one-of-a-kind land expands upon the popular ‘Despicable Me Minion Mayhem’ attraction, bringing a new collection of humorous adventures inspired by the beloved Minions franchise.

WESTJET BOOSTS BC FLIGHTS TO MEXICO

WestJet is boosting flight service to Mexico this winter, boasting a 14% increase in capacity from Vancouver International Airport, as well as adding weekly non-stop service between Vancouver and Ixtapa.

RETAIL ROUND-UP: F1S, Ensemble advisors sailing to success

Canadians are booking cruises again at pre-pandemic levels according to First in Service, which is reporting that two-thirds of its advisors in a recent survey said that demand for the sector has bounced back. Data also reveals that the Mediterranean is top cruise itinerary booked and that luxury and small ship experiences are increasing in popularity.

PRINCESS SAYS YES TO ‘KING OF BRIDAL’ RANDY FENOLI

Twenty-five years after hosting the first modern wedding at sea, Princess Cruises has unveiled a new line-up of wedding packages and announced TV host and bridal designer Randy Fenoli as Brand Ambassador for Love and Romance, a role that includes hosting a bridal fashion themed cruise in December and developing a signature wedding package exclusive to The Love Boat.

SUPER COOL: Look what you made me do.

Depending on your point of view, this incident can be viewed as sweet, generous, surprising, ill advised, foolish, opening the door to inane passenger expectations – and that’s just looking at a few possibilities. What happened? A Taylor Swift fan asked a Southwest pilot to fly over the pop star’s concert in Los Angeles — and guess what – he obliged.

BLING BUST: Don’t leave home with it

Police in northeastern Spain arrested two men who allegedly stole carry-on luggage containing some $12.5 million worth of jewelry and cash from departing passengers at Barcelona’s airport.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY: Goway’s founder at 80, celebrates a not-boring life

Bruce Hodge is surely one of the most interesting men in the world, so it was only fitting that lightning flashed and thunder clapped during his remarks as the inimitable founder of Goway Travel celebrated his 80th birthday at his North Toronto home late last week.

WILDFIRES TAKE TOLL ON BC TOURISM

British Columbia’s record wildfire season has affected travel bookings in some areas, but the impact on tourism in the province varies by region, proximity, and visibility of flames

‘LIKE SWIMMING IN SOUP’: Florida water temperatures hit triple digits

In the sweltering summer heat, nobody tries to cool off by jumping into a hot tub. In parts of Florida, however, that’s what the ocean has felt like. Last week, sea surface temperatures reached as high as 101.2 degrees Fahrenheit (38.4 degrees Celsius) around the state’s southern tip in Manatee Bay, according to the US National Weather Service.

RIU MAKES LONDON DEBUT

Riu Hotels & Resorts has made its UK debut with the opening of the Riu Plaza London Victoria, a new four-star 435-room establishment located in the heart of Westminster near Buckingham Palace and Big Ben.

WORK ON THE WATER: AmaWaterways makes case for digital nomads

On the occasion of Digital Nomad Day today (Aug. 08), AmaWaterways is encouraging remote to “make the world their office.” And to do so, the luxury river cruise line has put a special focus on its 2024 early season cruises, starting in February on the Rhine and Danube rivers.

THAT’S A NEW ONE: Baghdad-bound bear escapes on plane

As if there aren’t enough reasons for planes to be delayed these days, a bear escaped from its crate in the cargo hold of an Iraqi aircraft as it was due to depart from Dubai airport, leaving passengers disgruntled over the delay and causing a stir on social media.

ROUND-UP: July 31-Aug. 04, 2023

Among the headlines last week, IATA took umbrage with the federal government, TICO forked out funds for a number of claims, Nicaragua finally dropped arrivals testing requirements, Crystal cruised again, a new low-cast Caribbean carrier revealed plans for Canada, and a surprising retirement announcement from south of the border.

VISITOR RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED AT ACROPOLIS

Visits to the Acropolis of Athens, Greece’s most popular archaeological site, will be capped starting next month at a maximum 20,000 daily and subject to varying hourly entry limits, the Greek government says. Similar caps will also be imposed for other popular archaeological sites.

PET PEEVES: Not all animals travel safely

As many Canadians continue packing their vehicles for a summer road trip, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada has launched a campaign to remind them how to safely travel with their precious furry cargo. In fact, a new survey commissioned by the insurance company points to potential safety issues for all vehicle occupants.

STRANGE BUT TRUE: Tales of the weird and wacky

From an underwater music festival to kooky counting in Korea, ancient pizza in Pompei, and a story from California that’s positively a gas, it’s true that last week was indeed strange.

RAMSAY RESTAURANT TO FIRE UP GRILL IN BC

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is bringing his burger and steak outlets to a Vancouver casino and nearby resort. Gordon Ramsay Burger – the first in Canada – is set to open its doors at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver this fall, and Gordon Ramsay Steak will follow next year at River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.

THE AQUATIC LIFE: Diving into Celebrity’s Aqua Class

There’s no badge, no secret code, but being in Aqua Class makes you a member of a select club on a Celebrity cruise. And despite its name, you never actually need to get your feet wet to savour the Aqua life.

LISTENING IN: Bruce still a spring chicken

Few singer-songwriters have been so good for so long as Bruce Springsteen. Indeed, it’s a sad, if understandable fact that many, while continuing to play, must rely on their previous glory days as new music diminishes – at least in terms of quality. Not so the Boss, whose output beyond the ‘70s and ‘80s has been every bit as engaging.

TIME TO ‘TAKE OWNERSHIP’: IATA slams feds for airport delays

Instead of pursuing “costly and poorly thought-out” air travel consumer rights regulations, federal governments in Canada and the US need to “take ownership” of the issues causing “unacceptable” delays at airports across the continent and resolve them, says the director general of IATA.

LOW-COST ARAJET COMING TO CANADA

Canadians will have a new connection to the Caribbean and South and Central America courtesy of low-cost Dominican Republic-based carrier Arajet, with the launch of Toronto service in October, followed by flights from Montreal in November.

IBEROSTAR USES AI TO CUT FOOD WASTE

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts says its use of artificial intelligence (AI) has helped trim the fat off its food service by significantly reducing food waste this year and furthering its goals of achieving a “waste-free future” by 2025.

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