Swoop Airlines is adding significantly more capacity in Atlantic Canada and Ontario as it adds a half-dozen new planes. The Calgary-based company “will significantly expand its domestic network, adding non-stop flights to Newfoundland and increasing service in Atlantic Canada,” officials said today. “The ULCC will also add six new routes and capacity in Ontario and the Prairies in preparation for Canada’s busy summer travel season. The airline’s announced expansion comes as Swoop reports significantly increased passenger numbers and record bookings domestically.” Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low fare airline, also announced it will grow its fleet from 10 to 16 aircraft Read more
February 2022
Two great countries for foodies and travelers on a budget are moving to open for visitors. Vietnam this week announced plans to fully reopen its borders to foreign visitors “ideally at the end of March and no later than the end of April.” “We may be facing a further rise of omicron and possibly other new variants,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said recently. “However, with higher rates of vaccination along with other measures, we will be able to reopen the country safely, for the sake of economic recovery and development.” The Points Guy website says visitors will need to Read more
There’s more encouraging news today about a travel rebound. According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, the rapid decline in new COVID-19 cases nationally has travelers gearing up planning for both domestic and international travel. The percentage of travelers who say that coronavirus will greatly their decision to travel in the next six months dropped from 32 percent in early January to 24 percent in early February. And the number of travelers who reported they are changing their travel plans because of COVID-19 fell from 58 percent to 49 percent in the same time period. “Barring Read more
Australia today said it will open to fully vaccinated visitors as of Feb. 21. New Zealand has a plan to welcome foreign travellers over the next six months or so. And then there’s Canada, which continues to treat the tourism and travel industry like some kind of pariah. While other countries recognize the value of travel and tourism to their economies, Canada continues its over-the-top testing regulations, which discourage Canadians from travelling abroad and also discourage visitors from spending their money in Canadian cities and towns that are desperate for tourism dollars. WestJet last month clipped its flight schedule by Read more
Australia says it will open to fully vaccinated travellers on February 21. In welcome news for the battered and bruised Australian tourism industry, as well as Canadian and other airlines and worldwide tour companies, the Australian government today (Feb. 7) said it will end a nearly two-year-long ban on foreign travellers. Reuters reports the announcement means that people can travel to Australia from anywhere in the world as long as they are double vaxxed; the first time that’s been allowed since March, 2020. “If you’re double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia,” said Aussie Prime Minister Scott Read more
