Messy weather in western North America is wreaking havoc on airlines and airline passengers again today. As of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday (December 27), the website flightaware.com was reporting more than 2,850 flight cancellations for the day. More than 1/3 of those some 1,100 in all, were within, into or out of the United States. The biggest culprit appeared to be unusual winter weather in Seattle, where it was -4 Celsius at 2 p.m. local time. There was considerable snow in Seattle on Sunday. Seattle-Tacoma airport had 16% of its flights cancelled on Monday, flightaware.com reported. Alaska Airlines, Read more
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It’s hard to predict what 2022 will look like for travellers, but here’s a look at some potentially hot destinations for the year ahead. AUSTRALIA There’s going to be tons of pent-up demand for trips Down Under if the world can get past Omicron, and avoid the next variant. In Queensland, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel will allow visitors to learn about conservation efforts and the local ecological system from indigenous guides. The Tasman, Marriott’s first Luxury Collection Property in Australia opened last week (Dec. 15) in Hobart. It’s the first big hotel in Read more
Flair Airlines, Canada’s everyday low fare airline, continues to expand into the United States with the announcement of two new U.S. destinations: New York City and Chicago. Service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport will begin on April 7 and to Chicago O’Hare International Airport on May 17. “We’re working hard to continue our rapid expansion into the U.S., and we’re delighted to announce these exciting new U.S. destinations,” said Garth Lund, Chief Commercial Officer, Flair Airlines. “Flair’s ultra-low fares will make it easier to take in a Broadway show in New York or enjoy a beautiful summer’s Read more
Last week I published my Jimmy Awards for best food and drinks in the abbreviated travel year of 2021. Today I focus on hotels, events, attractions, riding in 60-year-old cars, the joy of COVID tests, and great parks I never knew about. Best train experience: The Rocky Mountaineer ride from Kamloops B.C. to Banff. Truly one of the world’s great train experiences, with luxurious, glass-roof coaches and excellent food and wine. Best hotel makeover: They spent $30 million refurbishing the Sheraton Gateway Hotel at Toronto Pearson Airport, and it shows. The lobby and rooms are sleek and stylish, and there’s Read more
Flair Airlines, a Canadian ultra-low-cost airline, continues its rapid growth with the announcement today that it intends to lease 14 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The ultra low-cost carrier’s fleet will grow to 30 aircraft by mid-2023. The Edmonton-based airline has 12 aircraft in service and will have 20 aircraft in service by summer 2022. Additional aircraft will arrive in 2023 as Flair more than doubles its current fleet size as part of the airline’s vision to have a fleet of 50 aircraft by 2025. “We’re on a mission to deliver low fares to Canadians and flying a state-of-the-art Read more
