It’s about to get a lot easier to stay in touch at 35,000 feet.
Air Canada says it plans to roll out fast, free streaming-quality Wi-Fi on many of its flights next spring. The service will be available to Aeroplan Members on Wi-Fi equipped aircraft for flights within North American and Sun markets beginning in May, 2025. The airline also plans to expand free Wi-Fi service to long-haul international routes in 2026.
“Reliable access to streaming-quality Wi-Fi is becoming essential for both business and leisure travellers. That’s why we’re upgrading our fleet with the latest technologies,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital at Air Canada, and President of Aeroplan. “We’re excited to offer fast, free Wi-Fi to all Aeroplan Members, with a customer-focused rollout plan that includes installation of service on the Air Canada Express Q400s, including those that fly from Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport.
“Although other Canadian airlines have announced free Wi-Fi services, not all have accelerated installation across their fleets or committed to offering the service comprehensively,” Nasr said. ‘Air Canada plans to offer fast, free Wi-Fi across its entire fleet and will begin rolling out this service in early spring.
“What’s more, over 85% of aircraft will be connected from day one, with the remaining installations being a priority throughout 2025.”
“Fast, free Wi-Fi will be available on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and most Air Canada Express aircraft,” officials said. “This initiative builds on the existing free Wi-Fi texting service sponsored by Bell, available since May 2023 for Aeroplan members. Air Canada offers its customers a best-in-class product including new and improved amenities such as chef-inspired menus, complimentary premium snacks, beer and wine, hours of complimentary inflight entertainment and Live TV on IFE-equipped aircraft, and an industry-leading mobile app that features real-time baggage tracking, digital identification and more.”
Customers who aren’t already an Aeroplan Member can sign up free of charge at aircanada.com/aeroplan. Customer without an Aeroplan membership will be able to purchase Wi-Fi for their flight at a reduced flat fee. The amount wasn’t disclosed by Air Canada.
“Customers travelling on select regional routes on Wi-Fi equipped aircraft throughout Canada, including between Toronto Billy Bishop Airport and Montreal or Ottawa, will be able to stay productive, stream live TV, and enjoy seamless connectivity on their personal device throughout their flight,” Air Canada said. “Plans to complete certification and installation of Wi-Fi connectivity on Q400 aircraft is targeted to begin in 2025 with planned completion of a first phase by year-end. This is set to be the first fast, free Wi-Fi offering on Q400 aircraft.”
Since May 2023, Bell has sponsored in-flight Wi-Fi services, providing Aeroplan Members with free in-flight texting, available on more than 90% of Air Canada mainline, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express aircraft.
Porter Airlines offers free Wi-Fi on its Embraer jets.
WORLD’S TOP CITIES: LONDON GETS LEFT OUT OF TOP TEN
Chris Karidis/Unsplash Photo
Paris has been crowned the world’s most attractive city for the fourth year in a row, data analytics company Euromonitor International revealed. But London didn’t even make the top ten. Ooh, la, la.
Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024 compares 55 different metrics across six key pillars for 100 city destinations, to create an overall city attractiveness score. The six key pillars include: (1) economic and business performance, (2) tourism performance, (3) tourism infrastructure, (4) tourism policy and attractiveness, (5) health and safety, and (6) sustainability.
Paris retained the title of the world’s leading city destination, followed by Madrid in second place and Tokyo in third. Rome came in fourth, while Milan rounded up the top five. That’s a big surprise to me, but I’ve only been there once and I think it was for two or three hours.
Asia stands out in the top 10 with representation from two cities. European destinations maintain a good standing in the Index largely due to the Tourism Infrastructure pillar.
THE TOP TEN
- Paris
- Madrid
- Tokyo
- Rome
- Milan
- New York
- Amsterdam
- Sydney
- Singapore
- Barcelona
OTHER NOTABLES
12. Seoul
13. London
14. Dubai
17. Bangkok
18. Los Angeles (terrific city)
19. Istanbul (I was just there and loved it)
20. Melbourne (that’s two Australia cities in the top 20)
21. Hong Kong
23. Las Vegas
26. Dublin
29. Lisbon
32. Athens
33. Orlando
34. Toronto (seems about right)
35. Miami
36. San Francisco (should be higher)
41. Washington D.C.
43. Vancouver
55. Honolulu (one of my faves)
68. Edinburgh (had a great visit in 2023)
69. Montreal
70. Cancún
I don’t dispute the results, but if you put London in the 13th spot and Montreal 69th, and if you put Las Vegas ahead of San Francisco you’ve got a goofy list. And where is Chicago? I can’t find it in their top 100.
I think Euromonitor puts too much emphasis on tourism for its own sake and infrastructure, and not for quality of life or attractions or restaurants or culture.
World’s Best Cities recently did its own ranking and put London in the number one spot, followed by New York, Paris, Tokyo and Singapore. Rounding out the top 10 were Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin and Sydney.
Both studies put Paris in the top three, and both had Tokyo in the top four. Both also had Rome, New York, Singapore and Sydney in the top ten.
World’s Best Cities put San Francisco in the 12th spot and Toronto at 15. Personally, I like the World’s Best Cities list a lot more.
U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION SEEKS QUICK DISASTER RELIEF FOR FLORIDA, HAWAI’I AND OTHER STATES
The U.S. Travel Association is urging the soon-departing Biden administration to pass immediate disaster-relief legislation for states where recent hurricanes and a wildfire devastated the tourism industry.
The Dec. 10 letter has 100-plus signatures, mostly from convention and visitors bureaus, business groups and tourism-development organizations in Hawai’i, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia; states where tourism businesses were devastated by hurricanes Helene and Milton this fall and by the Maui wildfires in 2023. The fires destroyed almost all of the town of Lahaina and cost more than 100 lives.
Among those signing were the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.
“As travel destination leaders and small business operators in communities and states devastated by recent severe disasters, we urge you to immediately enact a disaster supplemental appropriations bill,” the letter states. “Recovery cannot wait. From the Atlantic coast to the Hawaiian island of Maui and in states that span our great nation, our businesses and workers have experienced substantial losses that can only be reversed with federal support from Congress.
“The damage caused by Hurricane Helene alone is estimated to total up to $53 billion dollars, with continued impacts on local economies. To begin the long journey to recovery, disaster relief legislation funds are necessary to support the travel industry and related businesses that have been impacted by these events.
“Travelers and the travel industry are critical drivers of our economy. The severity of recent disaster events has resulted in steep losses in visitation to our destinations and our local small businesses who depend on the travel economy for their livelihood,” the leaders wrote.
