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.
NEWS
Close to 10,000 flight attendants almost unanimously (99.1%) voted down the Air Canada‘s wage offer, which included a 12% salary increase this year for most junior flight attendants and an 8% bump for more senior members, followed by smaller raises in subsequent years. The company assuaged fears of a further strike or lockout saying the wage portion of the offer will now be referred to mediation and, if necessary, arbitration, as previously agreed to by both sides.
Cambodia opened Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport (KTI) as officials welcomed an inaugural flight to great fanfare, with the hope of boosting tourism. The new three-runway facility replaces the nearly 70-year-old Phnom Penh International Airport which had only one runway. The new airport is initially expected to be able to accommodate 13 million passengers, but that capacity will increase to 30 million after 2030 and up to 50 million by 2050.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) 2025 Adventure Travel Market Sizing Report details a travel segment that has surged to nearly US$1 trillion in value and attracts a wider and more diverse audience than ever before. Globally, the core adventure-first traveller base has risen from 30% to 40%, and 67% of all international travellers are considered “Open to Adventure” says the report.
AIR
The first route for Air Canada’s new Airbus A321XLR (extra-long-range) aircraft will be from Montréal to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, operating four times a week (Mon-Wed-Fri-Sat) starting June 17, 2026 (returning the next day). With delivery of the XLR fleet to begin in Q1, 2026, Air Canada will also transition existing routes to the A321XLR, including year-round flights between Montréal and Toulouse, France, and seasonal flights between Montréal and Edinburgh, Scotland.
WestJet is adding Puerto Escondido to its route map for the first time, providing seasonal access for travellers between Calgary and the Pacific coast surf town in Oaxaca, Mexico. Beginning Dec. 12, the route will operate once per week throughout the winter travel season. With the new route, WestJet will operate 15 non-stop routes between Calgary and Mexico this winter, including Guadalajara, Tepic (Riviera Nayarit) and Cozumel. Additionally, WestJet extended non-stop service between Calgary and Mexico City to year-round.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is now offering a renewed inflight service to long-haul SWISS Business and SWISS First guests. It includes a sophisticated culinary choice and carefully selected on-board comfort items, while a host of details are designed to deliver the very best of Swiss hospitality from takeoff to landing.
DEALS
Guests who reserve a Windstar 2027 cruise in Tahiti by Oct. 31 will receive up to US$200 in onboard credit and Windstar’s All-In package (including Wi-Fi, gratuities, and select beverages), as well as saving an additional 5% when paying in full at the time of booking.
TOURS
Transat has unveiled its brochures for the 2025-26 winter season, offering a wide variety of packages and tours for all types of travellers, ranging from long-stays to wellness, solo, family and luxury and across Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, North Africa, Florida and Europe. Allowing for easy consultation, the digital documents are designed to provide “simplicity, comfort and peace of mind in just a few clicks.” See the brochures HERE.
Collette is inviting travellers to experience Italy on its newest 2026 tour. The nine-day “Rome, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast” itinerary blends iconic landmarks, cultural treasures, and culinary delights across three of Italy’s most beloved regions
HOTELS & RESORTS
Sunwing Vacations has added Playa Punta Hicacos to its portfolio of all-inclusive hotels and resorts in Cuba. Surrounded by lush gardens, the beachfront and lively Varadero resort, built in 2005 and renovated in 2010, has a full slate of amenities including several pools, baby club, multiple restaurants, beauty centre, and much more.
Now open in Japan, is the Fairmont Tokyo. Centrally located in the city, the hotel spans floors 35 to 43 of the newly developed ‘Blue Front Shibaura’ Tower South in the tranquil Shibaura district with its picturesque canals, lush gardens, and landmarks such as the majestic Zojoji Temple. There are 217 rooms, including 29 suites, each with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows
CRUISE
Guests on Carnival Cruise Line will have a larger variety of options as the company adds short itineraries into the mix for its Excel-class ships in 2027/28. Mardi Gras will be the first Excel ship to offer shorter cruises for the first time. After three week-long voyages from Port Canaveral departing May 1, May 8 and May 15, 2027, Mardi Gras will begin an all-new schedule for of four- and five-day sailings to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, in conjunction with the arrival of Carnival Festivale.
Ultra luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled its ‘Farewell Season’ for Seven Seas Navigator, marking the final chapter for the popular ship with a trio of commemorative voyages from August through October 2026. Journeys will feature nostalgic onboard celebrations, surprise guest appearances, heartfelt tributes, gala dinners, auctions of ship memorabilia, themed trivia, and engaging panel discussions. Having set sail in 1999, the final voyage will take place on Oct. 2, 2026.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Halloween is already in full swing in Orlando with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (photo above) at Magic Kingdom Park (select nights through Oct. 31) with a new “Zombies” dance party, plus the return of “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spelltacular!, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, and more. Meanwhile, Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida (select nights through Nov. 2) features 10 new haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment and more; and SeaWorld Orlando is hosting the family-friendly SeaWorld Spooktacular (weekends through Nov. 2) and Howl-O-Scream (select nights through Nov. 1).
FAMS & INCENTIVES
Through Oct. 5, advisors booking a CroisiEurope vacation cruise package with Air Canada Vacations will earn 1% Bonus Commission. The offer applies to new individual bookings made for select sailings until Dec. 31, 2026.
EVENTS
The Granite Travel Trade Fall Expos are set to place in October and November as follows: Winnipeg: Oct. 20; Red Deer, Alta.: Oct. 21; Kelowna, BC: Oct. 22; Surrey, BC: Oct. 23; Ottawa: Nov. 3; Kingston, Ont.: Nov. 4; Vaughan, Ont.: Nov. 5; Hamilton, Ont.: Nov. 6. Each Expo is focused on training and networking, with face-to-face interaction with agents and products. In each city, a presentation series featuring 15-minute segments by suppliers will be followed by a trade show, dinner, and prize giveaways. And the first 50 agents who arrive at each of the Expos will receive a complementary $20 MasterCard. Registration will open one month prior to each show. Attendance and parking are free. Agents can register HERE.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
TravelBrands BDM for Alberta and Saskatchewan Farole Kikkert is retiring, effective Oct. 31. The 25-year-plus travel industry veteran rejoined TravelBrands in February, 2024, but boasts connections with the company back to the Fun Sun Vacations era, where she spent nine years in the same role supporting the Alberta market.
DESTINATIONS
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) is reinforcing its presence in Canada with a seven-city roadshow in partnership with Air Canada. Running through Sept. 22, the SLTA team has called in Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver with stops still to come in Montreal (Sept 17), Toronto (Sept 19), and Windsor (Sept 22). The mission is designed to strengthen partnerships with travel advisors across the country.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1992, PWA Corp., parent company of Canadian Airlines, agreed to merge with Air Canada.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.