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
Canada
The U.S. on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 testing requirements for all travelers from China. But Canada has yet to follow suit. Starting January 5, all travelers to the U.S. from China, Macau and Hong Kong will need to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before boarding their flight. The testing applies to anyone two years and older, the CBC reports. Other countries made the move before the U.S., but Canada has yet to take similar action. A spokesperson for Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, said Canada is monitoring COVID-19 case numbers Read more
Mont-Tremblant, one of Canada’s most popular ski resorts, is the most expensive destination in the country for an overnight stay on New Year’s Eve this year, according to a survey by Cheaphotels.org. The survey compared the cost of accommodation this coming December 31 across 20 Canadian destinations. For each destination, the price for the cheapest available double room was recorded. Only centrally-located hotels rated at least three stars and with generally positive guest reviews were taken into account. Mont-Tremblant emerged as the clear leader with a rate of C$ 880 for the least expensive room. Compared to regular winter rates, Read more
The most wonderful time of the year has turned into the nightmare before New Year’s for many American and Canadian travelers. Last week it was Canada’s turn to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous travel. A massive snowstorm shut down airports in Vancouver and southern British Columbia a few days prior to Christmas, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights, including many from Canada’s WestJet Airlines. A so-called “bomb cyclone” or “weather bomb” then swept across the United States and Eastern Canada, causing massive cancellations at airports in Seattle, Detroit, Buffalo and New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Toronto Pearson, Canada’s Read more
The Christmas holiday season is proving to be the opposite of merry and bright for many Canadians. Major cancellations continued at airports and on train lines in eastern Canada on Christmas Day, when most Canadians hope to spend time with family and friends. All VIA Rail trains between Toronto and Montreal and Toronto and Ottawa are cancelled today, VIA Rail stated. It was much better than Saturday, but Christmas Day Sunday still saw more than 130 outgoing and incoming flights at Toronto Pearson, which means travel plans were disrupted or entirely cancelled for thousands and thousands of people. FlightAware reported Read more
