Canadian airlines are making major plans for the future. WestJet today announced the purchase of up to 64 Boeing MAX aircraft, while Sunwing unveiled its winter flight schedule and Flair Airlines Following the positive news that the Canadian government will lift all border and travel measures effective October 1, 2022, and amid a strong surge in customer demand for winter travel, Sunwing is has announced its initial winter flight schedules for four large airports from coast to coast. The tour operator’s winter schedule announcement for Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver airports comes on the heels of customer capacity returning to Read more
inflation
Flying out of Toronto Pearson airport is about to get more expensive. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) today (September 28) announced it will increase the aeronautical rates and the airport improvement fee (AIF) on January 1, 2023. These increases are a result of the high inflationary environment and ongoing impacts from COVID-19. The adjustment to the AIF will put Toronto Pearson in line with the current rates charged by other airports across Canada. Effective January 1, 2023, aeronautical rates for commercial aviation, business aircraft and general aviation aircraft will increase by 4 per cent. The AIF for departing passengers Read more
American travelers are being scared by gas prices this summer, while Canadians seem to be avoiding international travel. According to the latest Longwoods International survey, 44% of American travelers say they’re reducing the number of trips they’re taking because of record-high prices at the pump, up from 36% in May. A similar percentage are also shifting to destinations closer to home as another way to cope with high gas prices. Only 12% of those surveyed said rising gas prices are not impacting their travel plans. “Fuel costs continue to be a drag on the travel industry recovery,” said Amir Eylon, Read more
Airfare prices in Canada jumped 11.6 per cent year over year in May, according to Statistics Canada. Canadian Press says tickets are now above pre-pandemic levels. CP quotes Montreal-based Hopper Inc. as saying that prices are up 15 per cent from 2019 to $960 on average for international flights from Canada, with no sign of a dip in the coming months. It’s no surprise that prices have gone up, given that fuel prices have escalated and demand has exploded. Experts say booking an early morning or late-night flight is one way to save money. Mid-week flights (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) Read more
With pandemic travel restrictions largely in the rear-view mirror, a new CIBC polls finds that a majority of Canadians (63 per cent) are ready and excited for travel again. However, some vacation plans remain uncertain with three quarters of Canadians (75 per cent) indicating they are very concerned about the cost of travel due to inflationary pressures. Another poll, this one taken by PayPal Canada, finds that nearly half of millennials plan to splurge on their next vacation. A majority of respondents (97%) plan to travel within North America this year and 25 per cent prefer to explore locally in Read more
