Last week was a busy week for WestJet, as the carrier delivered news on its fleet integration with Sunwing, called for a rethink of airport fees in Canada, introduced a new fare category, and launched flights to Korea; in other news last week, Britian hit a milestone for Canadian visitors; two Montreal airports went to court; Silversea welcomed a new ship; and Windstar fast-tracked commission payments to agents.
NEWS
WestJet is pushing back its planned integration of Sunwing Airlines, which the Calgary-based carrier acquired last year, to April 27, 2025, six months after the integration date initially set for this October. The postponement relates to pilot training as well as the measurement units used in the cockpit. WestJet says both airlines will continue with “business as usual” for their winter flight schedules.
In other WestJet news, the airline’s CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says that Canada’s “user pay” model for aviation infrastructure needs rethinking, and that the federal government should stop collecting airport rents, which force airports to earn money by charging fees to airlines, related businesses like restaurants, and to passengers through ticket surcharges such as “airport improvement fees.” These fees, he says, drive up the cost of flying in Canada.
Aéroports de Montréal, which operates Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, has requested a permanent injunction in Quebec Superior Court to force the new Montreal Metropolitan Airport to change its name, arguing it will cause confusion among travellers. But the airport being taken to court is accusing the international airport of trying to protect a “monopoly.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Canada’s appetite for travel to Britain is surging with more than 1 million Canadian (1,003,000) visits in 2023, up 12% over 2022 and an increase of 15% since 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to VisitBritain. Visiting friends and relatives continued to lead in terms of volume of visits from the Canadian market. In 2023, VFR represented 43% of trips, holidays sat slightly second with 40%.
AIR
WestJet says it will soon introduce a new cheaper fare category available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag. The new “ultra-low” price offering is designed to travellers seeking the lowest fares while freeing up overhead bin space for other passengers. Last month, the carrier launched what it calls its “extended comfort” fare category, which offers passengers access to a number of perks – including preferential access to overhead bins. Meanwhile, WestJet also inaugurated flights to Seoul, South Korea, from Calgary.
BermudAir launched service to Canada with its inaugural flight to Toronto Pearson May 17 and followed with the start of Halifax service on Saturday (May 25). The nation’s flagship airline will provide direct year-round service to YYZ three times a week – Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday – with a flight time of two and a half hours, and weekly YHZ flights on Saturdays.
Air Canada is significantly boosting its schedule serving Ottawa with year-round flights to Calgary and Winnipeg, increased flights to Halifax and Quebec City, and the addition of widebody service to Vancouver. Additional schedule improvements include more flights to Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Cancun, and Punta Cana this winter.
DEALS
Until June 28, Transat’s “Book early, get plenty” offers travellers additional perks, such as up to 40% off per package; Price Drop Guarantee up to $200 per adult; Reduced deposit of $100 per person; Future Travel Credit of $50 per adult; 25% off Option Flex Standard. And new this year: the first 5,000 reservations receive 35% off at Lambert. Plus, travel advisors get 10X BONBON per booking, which means $50 per room, for travel from Quebec and 5X BONBON, which is $25 per room, for travel from Ontario and the Maritimes. Also, they get a chance to win one of five South packages for two that will be drawn every week of the promo, as well as a stylish luggage kit from Lambert. The promo applies to new individual bookings of Transat South packages for travel between Sept. 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025.
Meanwhile, clients travelling to Europe and Morrocco (June 1 to Oct. 31) with Air Transat can book Club Class seats for less; round-trip flights start at $1,399 from Toronto and at $1,499 from Montreal. The offer ends today (May 27).
Collette travellers can save up to $750 on “Exploring Greece and Its Islands” for its Sept. 8 and 12 departures.
TOURS
Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond.
Tauck has announced its first-ever tour of Colombia for 2025, with an in-depth nine-day “Colombia: South America’s Eternal Spring” exploration of the South American country set to launch next year. Also new for 2025 is the company’s first-ever Tauck Bridges family travel adventure in Japan, the 10-day “Journey Through Japan… A Family Adventure.”
HOTELS
Overlooking the River Nile, Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi (photo), opening in this month, is located within five kilometres of Cairo’s most popular attractions, including the Church of the Virgin Mary, Hanging Church, the Museum of Egyptian Civilization, and the Coptic Museum. Cairo International Airport CAI is 28 km. away. The hotel will offer several restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and a fitness centre.
A new 10-room European-style boutique hotel, The Celestine, is now open in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Hotelier Robért LeBlanc, in partnership with Cure Co’s Neal Bodenheimer, and the team behind The Chloe, debut The Celestine as their first French Quarter property in New Orleans. The charmning property, dating back to 1791, has been updated with French, Spanish, and Afro-Caribbean influences and a glamorous 1950s flair.
CRUISE
Silversea has taken delivery of Silver Ray, the second ship in its innovative Nova Class. The ship will embark on her maiden voyage from Lisbon on June 15 and spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to the Americas in December 2024.
Holland America Line has officially opened bookings for its 2026 Grand World Voyage aboard Volendam. The cruise line also unveiled and opened bookings for its 2026 Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage on Zaandam. The two extended cruises sail roundtrip from the United States in January 2026 and will rendezvous in Sydney, Australia, during their journeys.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Beginning July 3, Universal Studios Florida’s Mega Movie Parade will celebrate iconic movies E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World, Illumination’s Minions and Sing, along with DreamWorks’ Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. The parade will be UOR biggest daytime spectacle to date, combining 13 new floats, special effects, and nearly 100 performers – including dancers, skaters, stilt walkers, poi performers and more.
RESORTS
The Riu Palace Aquarelle is RIU Hotels & Resorts’ seventh hotel in Jamaica and first establishment in Falmouth, the capital of Trelawny parish, 35 minutes from Montego Bay airport and two hours from Kingston. Exclusve to Sunwing, the new 5-star, all-inclusive family hotel has a total of 753 rooms and is the first to offer swim-up suites on the first floor.
The newly opened Royalton CHIC Antigua, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – Adults Only has officially become the 33rd property to be a part of the All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, aligning itself with Marriott International’s prestigious Autograph Collection brand.
FAMS & INCENTIVES
From June through August, several hotels in New Orleans are offering special travel advisor rates through New Orleans & Company’s Independent Travel Advisor Summer FAM. While some blackout dates apply, many hotel packages include special amenities upon arrival and exclusive discounts for qualified travel advisors. To participate in the FAM, register HERE. https://rb.gy/0y1vic . Travel advisors can also request a VIP Pass which gives travel professionals exclusive access to discounts and special offers at restaurants, museums, and other popular attractions around New Orleans. For further details, contact Rachel Funel, Tourism Sales Senior Account Executive at rfunel@neworleans.com or (504) 566-5018. For additional resources visit and information www.neworleans.com/travel-professionals.
In a bid to further support travel advisor partners throughout the year, Windstar Cruises will begin paying all booking commissions 29 days prior to the cruise departure rather than after departure. Additionally, travel advisors who are investing their time to learn about the brand by becoming Windstar Cruises Star Specialists will have the opportunity to earn back the cruise fare of their eligible FAM trip in the form of a future commission payment.
EVENTS
Having recently wrapped the 55th edition of its signature travel trade show IPW, the US Travel Association is already looking ahead to Chicago from June 14-18, 2025.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Well-known Canadian travel industry veteran Meg Murgatroyd has joined solo traveller specialist Just You as head of trade sales for North America in a move the company says reinforces its commitment to supporting the travel trade in Canada. She can be contacted on meg.murgatroyd@justyou.com.
Carmen Riu has decided to retire as co-CEO of Spanish-based RIU Hotels & Resorts. Nearly 70, she will depart before summer, leaving her executive and institutional representation roles at company, where she currently shares her position with her brother Luis Riu, who will now continue as the company’s sole CEO.
DESTINATIONS
Those who want to climb one of the most popular trails on Japan‘s iconic Mount Fuji will have to book a slot and pay a fee starting July 1 (through Sept. 10). Only 4,000 climbers will be allowed to enter the trail per day for a hiking fee of 2,000 yen (about $18). Of those slots, 3,000 will be available for online booking and the remaining 1,000 can be booked in person on the day of the climb. Climbers can book their slots via the Mount Fuji Climbing website.
A section of California‘s scenic Highway 1 leading to the famous Big Sur coast has reopened to around-the-clock traffic after stabilization of a storm-triggered rockslide that dropped a chunk of one lane into the ocean and hampered tourism. The gap has yet to be closed, but after placement of steel and concrete into the cliff, a temporary signal system was activated to allow alternating north-south traffic on the undamaged lane, according to the California Department of Transportation.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1906, Orville and Wilbur Wright received a patent for the airplane.
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