Demand for travel shows no signs of slowing, and there are positive signs for business travel and travel to Asia, a new study says. Expedia’s Traveler Insights report for the third quarter of 2022 paints a far rosier picture for the industry than would’ve been the case a year ago. Almost one-half of consumers surveyed said they have plans to travel internationally, and they’re also more willing to book a year or more in advance. Expedia said interest in Thailand and Hong Kong is on the rise, and that online searches for trips to Japanese cities rose 60% in the Read more

Indonesian lawmakers today (Dec. 6) unanimously passed “a sweeping new criminal code that criminalizes sex outside marriage, a move that threatens human rights and could do serious damage to the Asian country’s tourism economy. The new code, which also applies to foreign residents and tourists, bans people from living together when they’re not married, bans apostasy (the renunciation of religious or political beliefs), and provides punishments for insulting the president or expressing views counter to the national ideology, CNN reports. Many countries around the world have old laws on the books that forbid gay marriage or other activities. But unanimously Read more

Air Canada today announced a new service between Montreal and Fort McMurray that will launch next June as part of the carrier’s Canadian summer schedule. The airline also announced increased frequencies on Toronto-Kelowna, Winnipeg-Toronto and Montreal-Vancouver, and restored daily service between Toronto and Gander, Newfoundland. For summer 2023, Air Canada is also restoring suspended services and increasing frequencies on popular routes across Canada, as the company augments its Canadian network following the pandemic. “As the country’s flag carrier, Air Canada’s increased Canadian summer schedule further reinforces our role in providing critical connectivity to Canadians coast-to-coast,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice Read more

Free beer and wine on board has been a staple of Porter Airlines for years. Now you can add free Wi-Fi on their new Embraer Jets. “Porter Airlines is unveiling an exceptional new economy air travel experience that challenges what every North American airline offers,” officials said in a media release issued this morning (06 DEC). “Building on its distinct, longstanding regional service, Porter will elevate economy flying for everyone in its greatly expanding network.” It will be fascinating to see how this kind of service plays out and how the paying public reacts to free Wi-Fi. Porter also says Read more

Air Canada is celebrating the holiday season with a new, heartfelt short film to enchant Canadians with a message of togetherness. Launching today across Canada, the animated spot stars a baby loon who gets separated from its family on the annual journey south for the winter. The baby loon finds its way back to its loved ones in an unexpected way that is sure to give Canadians a jolly surprise. “Together for the Holidays“, opens with the baby loon and its family soaring through the Canadian skies as a strong gust of wind pushes the protagonist out of its parents’ Read more

WestJet today announced its 2023 summer 787 Dreamliner routes from YYC Calgary International Airport, unveiling Tokyo, Japan, as its first destination in Asia with new service to Narita International Airport. The airline is also creating greater two-way tourism opportunities and increasing connectivity between Western Canada and Europe with new service between Calgary and Barcelona, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland along with increased frequencies on existing European routes. Today’s announcement comes as WestJet prepares for broader expansion within Canada and North America over the coming months. Open Jaw reports that flights from Toronto to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Barcelona and London Gatwick will Read more