WestJet’s chief executive says Canadians should find plenty of good travel deals this winter and on into summer. Speaking to Yahoo Finance Canada, CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said travel demand is resilient and that he expects a strong winter season. But he also said capacity is up and that there are more options for travellers. “There are markets that have seen strong pent-up demand that drove pricing, because there was an imbalance between supply and demand, the most prominent being on (transatlantic routes) over the summer,” von Hoensbroech said. Demand is now more in line with capacity, which has helped Read more
inflation
The cost of air travel continues to fall for Canadians. And fall fast. In its latest consumer price index report, Statistics Canada says the price of air transportation in Canada dropped 19.4% in October. According to Canadian Press, that follows a year-over-year drop of 21% in September, and 20% in August. A massive spike in air travel demand following the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a huge increase in air fares, so one could argue a course correction was due to happen. While data shows that airfares in Canada overall have normalized from an exceptionally strong 2022, “pricing remains above pre-pandemic levels Read more
If you’ve noticed air fares are more reasonable these days, you’re definitely onto something. The latest StatsCan report states that consumers paid less for air transportation (21.1%) in September on a year-over-year basis. That coincides with a gradual increase in flights offered by airlines over the previous 12 months, the agency said. Robert Kokonis, president and managing director at AirTrav Inc., told me that the StatsCan figures estimate the average change of airfares within Canada and between Canadian cities and international destinations. “I am not surprised given the growth of seat capacity recovery over the past 12 months, particularly in Read more
Nearly two of three Canadians is planning to travel internationally in the next little while. But hotel rates will continue to climb in 2024. Two reports from different divisions of American Express provide valuable insights for consumers. An AmEx Global Business Travel report says inflation could cause hotel prices to increase by double digits in cities such as Paris and Chicago, while slightly more modest hikes are expected in Canada. Another American Express report says 63% of Canadians plan to travel internationally this year, and that almost 80% of Canadian Gen Z’ers turn to social media for travel inspiration. Here’s Read more
The summer travel season is here, and so are higher prices. KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, says flight prices are up 33% year over year. But Canadians are continuing to prioritize travel, with searches on KAYAK up 75% vs. last year. To help travellers continue to navigate some of the sticker shock, KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, is launching a new “Best Time to Travel tool” as THE place to start your trip planning, uncovering optimal times of the year to fly and when to book by for a great price and trip experience. Read more
