Air Canada and Emirates – the world’s largest international airline – have signed a memorandum of understanding to extend their reciprocal codeshare and loyalty partnership until Dec. 31, 2032. The renewed agreement will deepen their cooperation, lead to enhanced services for customers and cargo shippers, and create the potential for new gateways within Canada in the codeshare network.
As Black Friday approaches, travel companies continue to drop their annual sales events, most of which extend to dates both before and after the actual day. Here are some of the latest and ongoing offers. New entries include ACTA, Sunwing, Transat, Collette, Expedia TAAP, Hyatt, and more.
Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, has had 70.1 million passengers already this year and is on track to break its own records again, officials said Wednesday. The rapid growth of passengers at the airport underscores Dubai as a key hub for East-West travel in global aviation and the need for its $35-billion project to build a massive, five-runway airport at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a new tourism campaign, redefining luxury through the lens of personal healing, sustainability, and cultural connections for a new generation of travellers. With the “Unforgettable Experience: Healing is the New Luxury” campaign, TAT aims to position the Asian destination a place where travellers can slow down, recharge, and reconnect with themselves and nature in a world where speed, stress and uncertainty dominate daily life.
Cuba’s shores offers some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular and diverse beaches, each with its own distinct character and endless opportunities for exploration. From incredibly clear waters teeming with marine life to secluded stretches of shore that inspired literary legends, the island presents remarkable adventures for travellers seeking authentic Caribbean beauty.
U.S. News & World Report, publisher of the Best Hotels, Best Vacations and Best Travel Rewards Programs has released its 2026 Best Cruise Lines rankings. The prestigious 12th installment of the Best Cruise Lines rankings expands to highlight 19 of the most popular ocean cruise lines across 10 categories catering to cruise interests. Notably, one cruise line (Viking) scored four firsts – 40% of the top accolades.
By Mike Foster/ If you’ve been in the travel industry long enough, you know what it feels like to carry out a role that keeps growing in every direction. One moment you’re unravelling a schedule change, then answering a late-night text, then explaining a loyalty perk, then reviewing cancellation terms, then sourcing a boutique hotel that still has the right room type in the right week.
WestJet has revealed five new seasonal international destinations from Toronto, three new transatlantic destinations from Halifax, as well as new domestic and Nordic connections from Western Canada as part of its summer 2026 schedule. Headlining the route roster is WestJet’s first South American non-stop connection from Toronto: Medellín, Colombia.
Hundreds of Air Transat pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), conducted informational picketing Monday in three key locations, the same day that the pilots began voting on a strike authorization ballot.
Cities are seeing particularly strong growth for international tourism – reversing a shift to more rural destinations during and following the pandemic, says a new report released at WTM London (World Travel Market).
The tiny Faroe Islands in the north Atlantic could be a poor choice for travellers with vertigo, seasickness or a fear of enclosed spaces. There are crumbling cliffs, sudden gale-force winds and hillsides so steep that even the sheep can tumble.
Airfares are expected to remain broadly stable through 2026, according to the newly released Air Monitor 2026 from American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT). The annual forecast analyzes global airfare trends and provides insight to help organizations manage their travel programs in a shifting airline landscape.
According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of Canadian travellers, while 56% of them do not intend to travel to the U.S. in the next 12 months, that figure is down from 61% in April.
WestJet has launched a new hotel booking platform that will enable both WestJet members and customers to book hotels worldwide and earn WestJet points. In partnership with digital travel platform Agoda, WestJet Hotel aims to enhance the WestJet customer experience by expanding hotel bookings with flight services, encouraging loyalty through the WestJet Rewards program.
By Michael Baginski/ With December set to mark the 75th anniversary of the first Air Canada flight to Barbados (its first Caribbean destination), the airline is set to the host the 2025 edition of its Air Canada Race on the island with 20 qualified Canadian travel advisors set to take part in the five-day event starting Thursday (Nov. 20). Suitably it is the first island destination for the Race.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration lifted all restrictions on commercial flights that were imposed at 40 major airports during the country’s longest government shutdown. The unprecedented order, which had been in place since Nov. 7 and had affected thousands of flights across the country, went into effect Monday.
From Hawaii Five-O to Lost and Jurassic Park, there’s no shortage of movies and TV shows that have and continue to be filmed in Hawai’i. As such, there are plenty of familiar locations and landscapes that can be found around the islands that are certain to inspire film buffs, while adding a unique touch of Hollywood to the Polynesian paradise. Here’s a guide.
London has been ranked the ‘World’s Best City’ for the 11th year in new research released at WTM London (World Travel Market). The World’s Best Cities 2026 report scores global cities for their liveability, loveability and prosperity. Toronto topped out five Canadian entries in the top 100 at No. 17.
With less than 100 days to go until the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, new data from Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) finds a surge in flight bookings and ticket purchases for the Winter Games (Feb. 6-22) made with Visa across Italy’s host regions.
Travellers in 2026 will put their passions first, according to a survey of affiliated advisors conducted by TRAVELSAVERS Canada, whether it’s bucket-list adventures, all-inclusive luxury, or immersive journeys. From Europe to Asia, clients are pursuing purposeful trips in far-flung destinations, treating themselves to upscale, personalized experiences that provide deeper meaning in their travels.
The Japan National Tourism Organization hosted a dedicated travel trade event, ‘Japan: Delve Deeper,’ at Toronto’s Chelsea Hotel last week. Designed to facilitate direct engagement between Canadian tour operators and Japanese travel suppliers – including DMOs, DMC, transportation providers, and accommodation partners – the event also notably introduced compelling, lesser-known regions of the country that align with JNTO’s ongoing efforts to promote rural tourism.
The WestJet Group has named Lyne Chayer Vice-President, Québec Guest Experience & Vacations. In the expanded role, Chayer will continue to oversee Québec tour operations while also “serving as the voice of the guest within the province – ensuring that the unique needs and preferences of Québec travellers are well represented across the organization.”
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.
Citing “43 days of chaos” that resulted in more than $6 billion in lost travel spending and unnecessary pain for travellers and federal workers, U.S. Travel blasted Congress for its “self-inflicted crisis” and “foolish path” in sustaining the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will remain at 6% – albeit instead of rising to an “extraordinary” 10% – by the end of the week because more air traffic controllers are coming to work, U.S. officials said as Congress took steps to end the longest American government shutdown in history after the president signed a funding bill to end the closure.
Air Transat is expanding its 2026 summer program with two new non-stop routes from Montreal to Dakar (DSS), Senegal, and Reykjavik (KEF), Iceland. The airline is also increasing the frequency of its flights to Valencia (VLC), Spain, due to the popularity of this destination, which was launched in the summer of 2025.
For nearly 40 years, a tiny town in Vermont has attracted hordes of “Beetlejuice” fans eager to visit where the whimsical horror movie’s most famous scenes were filmed. With a population hovering just around 1,500, “Beetlejuice” mania has helped put East Corinth on the map not only for fans of the movies but also those looking for a spooky-themed road trip.
By Wallace Immen/ Crescent Seas, a start-up company planning to sell condos on cruise ships is backing out of a high-profile charter of two well-known ships pushing plans for homes at sea far into the future.
By Michael Baginski/ Melissa Etheridge’s stunning ballad “You Can Sleep While I Drive” has been a favourite for fans since it appeared on her second album in 1989, “Brave and Crazy” – a disc that reached No 5 in Canada. The song got a further boost in ’95 when it was covered by Trisha Yearwood, but it’s a tune that has always innately belonged to the introspective Kansas singer-songwriter.
Nathalie Morisseau leapt at the chance for a last-minute sun vacation with her 23-year-old daughter – as long as it wasn’t in America. “With my father being Haitian, there’s a certain fear around being able to go to the United States,” she said, citing concerns around immigration enforcement and attitudes toward perceived outsiders.