The Biden administration in Washington today (Jan. 4) extended the enforcement of its vaccine mandate for all foreign air travelers entering the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy was set to expire Jan. 8, according to CBS News, “but will now be enforced until at least April 10, based on a new emergency amendment issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).” The U.S. just recently announced that passengers on flights coming from The People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao would have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Canada announced a similar Read more

A prominent Liberal in the Justin Trudeau government says he wants to hear from Sunwing and VIA Rail about the travel chaos that many Canadians endured over the holidays. MP Peter Schiefke, the Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges in Quebec and chair of the federal government’s transportation and infrastructure committee, tweeted on Tuesday that both companies need to be held accountable for a disastrous holiday season. Sunwing cancelled flights between Canada and Mexico a couple days before Christmas, leaving hundreds of Canadians stranded during the holidays. Passengers on a VIA Rail train headed from Ottawa to Toronto were forced to Read more

Today is Alaska’s statehood day, and to celebrate the region that is at the heart of summer cruising Holland America Line is sharing details of its 2024 Alaska season. The premium cruise line is debuting a new 28-day Arctic Circle itinerary that includes 12 Alaska ports, longer 14-day voyages and 117 weeklong journeys, enhancing its position as the leader in Alaska cruising. With more sailings to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line, the only cruise line to include the unspoiled riches of the Yukon plus Denali on overland Cruisetours and more than 75 years of Alaska exploration Read more

The Canadian government today announced a temporary negative COVID-19 test requirement for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao. Air travellers two years of age and older will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test before departing for Canada beginning January 5, the Trudeau government said. The U.S. made a similar announcement a few days ago. Worried about a surge in cases in China and an alleged lack of accurate reporting of COVID-19 infection data, other countries also have placed restrictions on travellers from China. “As of 12:01 a.m. EST on January 5, all Read more

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canadian airlines are “breaking their word” with the public and that the Trudeau government isn’t doing enough to help Canadian travellers left stranded at airports across the country. Speaking with journalists in Ottawa on Friday, Poilievre laid the blame for the chaos endured by thousands of Canadian passengers over the last week at the foot of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arguing airports and airlines are federally regulated and therefore a responsibility of the federal government, Global News reports. “This is a federal problem,” Poilievre said. The lead-up to Christmas was a disaster for many Canadian Read more

Battered Southwest Airlines says it expects to operate at something approaching full strength. Following one of the worst performances in U.S. aviation history, with more than 13,000 cancelled flights since December 22, the airline says it expects to operate with “minimal disruptions” on the day before New Year’s Eve. Southwest cancelled 2,362 flights on Thursday (57% of all scheduled departures), according to FlightAware.Com. But the website shows only 41 cancellations (1% of flights) as of 11 a.m. Eastern Time today (Dec. 30, 2022). Thousands of passengers are still trying to find their way home, or to their final destination, following Read more