Winter storms across wide swatches of the eastern United States and Canada, as well as a bone-chilling polar vortex, have sparked one of the worst travel weekends in recent history. More than 10,000 flights in and out of the United States had been cancelled for today (Sunday, Jan. 25) as of 9 a.m. ET. If you figure only 100 people per flight, that’s a million passengers left stranded on a single day. More than 4,000 flights in the US were cancelled on Saturday, and nearly 2,000 have already been kyboshed for tomorrow (Monday). There are reports of major power outages Read more
Ottawa
Winter Storms Wreaking Havoc on Travel in Eastern USA and Canada; More Than 15,000 Flights Cancelled
Porter Airlines is announcing its first flights to sun destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica this winter. It’s a major change for Porter, which has previously operated flights only within Canada and to the United States. It also gives Canadians and other travellers new ways to reach sunny destinations this winter. Porter said its expansion means travellers can choose from five destinations and 13 routes originating from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ottawa International Airport and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. The line-up of destinations includes Cancun, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Nassau, The Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Read more
The Canadian government is making national parks free this summer for all visitors, as well as providing free admission to national museums, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites administered by Parks Canada. Ottawa also is making it easier to see the country by train, with free travel on VIA Rail for kids aged 17 and under if accompanied by an adult, and a 25% discount for those aged 18 to 24. On top of that, the government is providing a 25% discount on camping fees for Parks Canada properties. “This summer, Canadians can enjoy the very best Canada Read more
This year, Canadians are looking beyond the usual beach resorts by basking in the beauty of stunning landscapes and immersing themselves in new communities. According to data from KAYAK, interest in travel to Africa and Central America is soaring, with jumps of 17% and 12% respectively, compared to last year – a clear sign that long-haul, experience-driven getaways are on the rise. Planning a getaway on a budget? We have good news! Average airfare is down compared to last year (down 4%), with popular destinations like St. Maarten, Martinique, and Cabo San Lucas down more than 20%. And for Canadians Read more
Another winter storm is wreaking havoc on air travel in southern Ontario and in Montreal, with more than 420 flights cancelled today at four major airports. There are also a number of cancellations in Boston and Washington, D.C. After being walloped by snow storms over the last couple days, another 25 centimeters of snow or more was expected overnight and on into Sunday in parts of the Greater Toronto/Golden Horsehoe region tonight and tomorrow. The Weather Network says the storm is expected to move east and crush Montreal with 25 to 40 centimeters of white stuff on Sunday and Monday. Read more
