Your travel dollars likely won’t go as far next year.
Air Monitor 2023, published today by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), forecasts widespread air fare price rises in North America and around the world, due to a range of factors including inflation, rising fuel costs, and capacity issues. The report is an annual forecast of air fare movements on key business travel routes.
North American domestic fares are expected to see moderate rises (3.4% business, 2.9% economy) as more capacity comes online in 2023. Europe-North America routes are expected to see modest rises of 3.7%, while intra-European flights could see stronger price rises (6% in the business cabin, 5.5% in economy) as airline capacity recovery lags behind the resurgence of demand.
In Asia, price rises are forecast to be even sharper. And in Australia, domestic flights are forecast to rise 19.4% in the business cabin. Some countries in the Asia-Pacific region have been slower to reopen after COVID-19 travel restrictions, and an increase in demand combined with relatively strong economic prospects could put upwards pressure on prices.
According to the report, North America has led the global aviation recovery and carriers are optimistic that people want to fly. The Q3 earnings statements for Air Canada, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines all included statements of confidence about the continuing demand for travel. In Canada, in Q1 2023 airline capacity is expected to recover to 97% of 2019 ASM levels (available seat miles).
The California Capitol Building is a handsome structure in surprising Sacramento. JIM BYERS PHOTO
AIR CANADA BOOSTS JFK, ADDS SACRAMENTO DIRECT
Air Canada today announced three new U.S. routes, including service from Toronto and Montreal to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Toronto to Sacramento as part of its trans-border summer schedule. For summer 2023, Air Canada will also restore 11 suspended trans-border services and increase frequencies on 12 popular routes to the U.S. in rebuilding its global network following the pandemic.
“Air Canada is very pleased to offer customers the most choice of any carrier flying to the U.S. for Summer 2023, where we will operate more than 400 daily flights on 95 routes to 47 destinations. We are getting an early start with new routes to JFK from both Toronto and Montreal beginning March 26, and Toronto-Sacramento in June. As well, we will restore previously suspended routes and increase frequencies on existing routes as we rebuild our transborder schedule,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.
“Our U.S. summer schedule, which will complement our recently announced Canadian and international summer schedules, is designed to maximize connectivity within our network and offer the most seats on the most flights to the most destinations. Strengthened by our Transborder Joint Business Agreement with United Airlines, our schedule will also be attractive for sixth freedom global travellers flying internationally and strengthen our hub airports with more connection traffic.”
New U.S. Services
Air Canada is further cementing its leadership as the largest international carrier serving the New York market, offering more than 3,500 seats on 39 daily flights from six Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax) into New York City’s three major airports (JFK, Newark, LaGuardia).
New services to New York’s JFK will begin March 26, with double daily service from Toronto and daily service from Montreal. Flights will be operated by Air Canada Jazz using an Embraer E175 aircraft with 76 seats in a Business and Economy Class configuration.
New service between Toronto and Sacramento will begin June 1, 2023. Flights will be operated year-round, four-days-a-week, by Air Canada using an Airbus A220-300 aircraft with 137 seats in a Business Class and Economy Class configuration.
I grew up about 90 minutes from Sacramento and have friends and family in the city. It’s a terrific spot, with fabulous farm-to-table cuisine, urban art, wonderful wine and tons of cool history.
In addition to the new Toronto-Sacramento service beginning in June, Air Canada’s Halifax-Newark daily service starting December 16, 2022, its Montreal-Tampa three-times-weekly service, its Vancouver-Miami three-times-weekly service starting December 17, 2022, and its new Vancouver-Houston daily service starting December 16, 2022 will continue in the summer as year-round operations.
CTV News reports Air Canada will trim its flights between Calgary and Regina and between Calgary and Saskatoon next year.
Visitors to the Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand will be able to stay overnight next year. That’s me on a visit a few years ago.
SLEEP LIKE A HOBBIT IN NEW ZEALAND
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Tourism New Zealand is pleased to share that fans and travelers from all over the world will be able to stay overnight at the original Hobbiton Movie Set, courtesy of Airbnb. Beginning in March, Hobbiton Co-Founder Russell Alexander is inviting guests to his family’s property to live like Bilbo Baggins and spend a night in The Shire.
Beyond the Hobbiton Movie Set, travelers looking to fully immerse themselves in the enchanted world of Middle-Earth will find all they dream of in New Zealand – the original backdrop for many of the film’s most iconic scenes.
I’m a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. They’re a little heavy on special effects but I love hobbits and the idea of a peaceful place like The Shire. I got to visit Hobbiton for several hours five or six years ago and absolutely LOVED it.
A series of dishes at Camphor, a Michelin-star restaurant in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Los Angeles Tourism.
LOS ANGELES RESTAURANTS EARN 26 MICHELIN STARS
Los Angeles secured 26 MICHELIN Stars at the California Star Revelation event this week, further defining LA’s status as a global dining capital. Seven of these stars are new additions that highlight a variety of our diverse neighborhoods, including the DTLA Arts District, Culver City, Little Tokyo and more.
Citrin, where I enjoyed a fine meal three years ago, received a Michelin star. Girl and the Goat received a Michelin recommendation. I had a terrific dinner there earlier this year.
Local fisherman in Halong Bay, Vietnam. JIM BYERS PHOTO
G ADVENTURES 2023 TRIPS: WHERE TO SAVE AND GIVE BACK
With strong bookings being reported across the industry – and G Adventures experiencing its best November on record for Canadian bookings – it’s clear that the appetite for travel is back, with 2023 set to be the first full year of recovery since the pandemic.
Mindful of the cost of living increases travellers are facing, along with the importance of tourism recovery for local communities around the world, G Adventures’ ‘Where to Travel’ list highlights the best adventures for 2023 that offer affordability and added value in-destination, while still giving back to the local communities that are trying to revive – and ultimately thrive – following the impact of the pandemic on the international tourism industry.
Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, says while 2023 is set to be the year of full recovery for travel businesses, it’s important travel companies still keep their eye on the ball when it comes to sustainability.
“Our ‘Where to Travel’ list this year focuses on value and giving back to local communities. There’s still a lot of pent-up demand in the market, and people have discretionary income saved from not travelling for two years, but economic uncertainty is still present. Travel restrictions have relaxed a lot however, so it’s become much easier for people to get away.”
The list follows:
1. Sri Lanka
2. Turkey
3. Japan
4. Peru
5. Thailand
6. Morocco
7. Mexico
8. Egypt
9. South Africa
10. The Balkans
11. Costa Rica
12. Vietnam
SPAIN CELEBRATES PICASSO IN 2023
Spain next year will celebrate 50 years since the death of renowned artist Pablo Picasso. There will be 16 exhibitions in 2023 in Madrid, Barcelona, A Coruna, Bilbao and Malaga, where Picasso was born.
Spain is famous for its food and culture, as well as national parks and the Pyrenees Mountains. Barcelona and Madrid are two of the most popular cities in the world for visitors. I also love Valencia, which feels like a smaller, more manageable version of Barcelona and has wonderful seafood paella.
STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR PARTS OF JAMAICA
A state of emergency has been declared across a large section of Jamaica to fight violent crime, CNN reports.
“All Jamaicans should be able to enjoy the Christmas season free from the threat of violence. We have some really serious criminal threats facing us and we have to use all the powers at our disposal,” , the Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a public address on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.
The State of Emergency will be enforced in nine of Jamaica’s 14 parishes, including Clarendon, Saint Catherine, Westmoreland, Hanover and parts of Kingston, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann (which includes Ocho Rios) and Saint James, which includes Montego Bay.
