North Americans should be prepared for a very busy weekend. The U.S. Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and, with travel restrictions pretty much lifted around the world, it’s big. Very big. Scary big. The American Automobile Association expected 37.1 million Americans to hop in their cars this weekend, up 6% from last year. I’m surprised it’s not a little higher given that the association says car rental prices are down 17% and gas prices down 10% from a year ago. “We’re seeing strong demand for MDW with nearly 17 million passengers scheduled to depart from U.S airports this coming Read more
Asia
We’re crazy about New York and L.A., but also booking trips to the Philippines, Europe and Toronto. Online travel agency CheapOair.ca is sharing insights into the top Canadian, U.S. and international destinations booked by Canadians for the upcoming summer season. Through its comprehensive travel trend monitoring of web site bookings between June 1 and August 31, 2023, CheapOair.ca has highlighted key insights that show Canadians are ready to make the most out of their summer vacation time. Key Insights – Backyard travel to domestic destinations continue to lead the charge, possibly driven by the high international currency conversion and more cost-effective Read more
With a potential WestJet pilots’ strike or company lockout less than 48 hours away, WestJet’s CEO says a “massive” gap remains between the union and airline negotiators. Negotiations are continuing around the clock between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association as the clock ticks down toward a strike deadline of 3 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 19. CTV News reports the standoff “leaves thousands of passengers with travel plans for the May long weekend and beyond hanging in limbo — and has already affected bookings.” “The gap is still massive,” CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said of the negotiations, Read more
Hong Kong airport officials are giving away 500,000 sponsored flights to visit the city, and Canadians are eligible. “Hong Kong is ready to welcome global visitors with its recent ‘Hello Hong Kong’ promotional campaign, launched in February. This initiative represents the city’s enthusiastic outreach to international tourists.” To entice travellers, Airport Authority Hong Kong is offering 500,000 sponsored air tickets across various markets via four major home-based carriers: Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines. In the Canadian market, these tickets are distributed through Cathay Pacific. Although the base fare is waived, Canadian passengers Read more
Flight bookings are taking off in Canada and around the world. A study from the Mastercard Economics Institute found that flight bookings around the world show an impressive 33% year-over-year growth. It also found that leisure flight bookings in Canada were up 45.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year. New insights from Mastercard reveal that consumers are prioritizing leisure travel and pioneering new corridors around the world. Released today, Travel Industry Trends 2023 delivers key insights about the global state of travel, punctuated by shifting economic landscapes, persistent consumer demands, and a reopening of mainland Read more
