14 November 2023

Air Canada Boost Asia Routes; Top Travel Spots for Americans & Canadians; Iceland Volcano Update

Air Canada is boosting its Asia presence. American travelers are eyeing the Caribbean, and Canadians are looking for lesser-known options. Meanwhile, Iceland could be poised for another volcano. Today’s blog post has all sorts of travel news and trends.

AIR CANADA EXPANDS ASIA PRESENCE

Asia travel has been slow to recover from COVID-19, but Air Canada is betting on the Asian continent in a big way.

Air Canada today announced it is strategically boosting its Asia-Pacific network capacity beginning mid-December through to the end of next summer 2024.

Among the changes:

– Vancouver-Hong Kong operates up to 11 weekly flights beginning in mid-December;

– Capacity will nearly double between Canada and Japan this winter;

– Vancouver-Bangkok flights operating daily during peak winter months are being extended to early May 2024; and,

– A new route from Vancouver to Singapore launches in April of next year.

Hong Kong at night. Simon Zhu/Unsplash Photo

“Air Canada’s Asia services continue to reflect strong demand and we are boosting capacity to this geographic area as we deploy our international diversification strategy,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada. “This winter we are pleased to offer up to 57 flights per week between Canada and Asia, and up to 64 flights per week next summer.

“Air Canada will have up to double daily flights to Hong Kong and larger aircraft operating to Shanghai during the December holiday and Lunar New Year travel periods. Capacity to Japan increases by 96% this winter compared to last year. Next spring, seasonal Osaka flights resume earlier and larger aircraft will operate to Narita and Seoul. Our upcoming launch of our new route to Singapore and increased capacity on our successful Bangkok route underscores our continued commitment to investing in fast-growing markets in Southeast Asia. With the investments we have made at our global hub airports linking Air Canada’s extensive North American network to our international flights, travelling between North America and Asia is convenient and compelling for leisure and business travellers alike,” he said.

ARUBA, JAMAICA, OOH I WANT TO TAKE YOU…

Playa Rincon is a beauty of a beach in the Samana region of the Dominican Republic. – JIM BYERS PHOTO

IMG (International Medical Group), an award-winning global insurance benefits and assistance services company, has conducted a review of customer travel plans between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day and predicts the top 5 international destinations for U.S. travelers will be:

1. Mexico

2. Aruba

3. Jamaica

4. Dominican Republic

5. Bahamas

IMG data shows that travelers are increasing the amount they are spending on their trips this holiday season, with a 12% increase in the average insured trip cost among IMG travelers.

LESSER-KNOWN TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS FROM AMEX: AUSTRALIA, SWITZERLAND AND ST. KITTS/NEVIS IDEAS

Touring St. Kitts. PHOTO COURTESY ST. KITTS TOURISM

According to Amex’s 2023 Global Travel Trends report that was released earlier this year, 63% of Canadians want to travel to a destination that is off the beaten path, and with 53% of Canadians saying they planned to go on more trips this year compared to last, this list couldn’t come at a better time. See below for the American Express 2024 Trending Destinations: Off the Beaten Path list:

· Adelaide Hills, Australia for an Australian rural retreat (instead of popular destination: Blue Mountains, Australia)

· Bodrum, Turkey for bustling bazaars, fresh seafood, active nightlife, and beaches on the sparkling blue Aegean (instead of popular destination: Istanbul, Turkey)

· Porto Cervo, Italy for celebrity glamour and mouth-watering cuisine (instead of popular destination: Amalfi Coast, Italy)

· St. Kitts and Nevis for sparkling seas, friendly locals and historic culture (instead of popular destinations: St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands)

· Niseko, Japan for an unforgettable winter sports experience (instead of popular destination: Sapporo, Japan)

· San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for beautiful scenery and vibrant food and culture (instead of popular destination: Riviera Maya, Mexico)

· Santa Fe, USA for a blend of American Southwest culture, history, and natural beauty (instead of popular destination: Sedona, USA)

· Seychelles for paradise, along with expansive biodiversity and multicultural vibrancy (instead of popular destination: Maldives)

· Udaipur, India for an uber-romantic city of lakes and palaces (instead of popular destination: Agra, India)

· Zermatt, Switzerland for picturesque skiing with a charming feel (instead of popular destination: Dolomites, Italy)

ICELAND VOLCANO UPDATE (HERE WE GO AGAIN?)

In early November, a new period of intense earthquake activity has indicated a strong likelihood of another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office and geology experts continue to monitor the seismic activity. Unlike the Fagradalsfjall eruptions of 2021-2023, which occurred a relative distance from infrastructure or towns, the current activity indicates that an eruption is likely in the Grindavík area.

On November 12, the town of Grindavík was evacuated due to the risk of eruption in or near the town. Roads to Grindavík and a number of roads on the Reykjanes peninsula are closed. Note that the Blue Lagoon is temporarily closed for one week.

The seismic unrest on the Reykjanes peninsula currently has no effect on flights and airport operations at Keflavik International Airport.

Tagged as: Australia, Caribbean, Flights to Asia, flights to Hong Kong, Flights to Japan, flights to Korea, Hong Kong, Iceland volcano, Japan, Korea, Seoul, Tokyo

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