Two of Canada’s largest travel companies are proposing a major merger. WestJet and Sunwing announced today that they have reached a definitive agreement under which the WestJet Group of companies will acquire Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines. “The transaction will bring together two distinctly Canadian travel and tourism success stories to deliver new travel options and greater value for travellers in the rapidly expanding leisure and work-from-anywhere travel markets,” officials said. “The combination will enable both companies to protect and create jobs and rebuild strength in the Canadian travel industry at a critical time.” Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based AirTrav, Read more
Sunwing
Atlantic Canadians now have more opportunities to escape to paradise this winter with Sunwing. Amid easing border measures beginning on February 28, 2022, the tour operator has moved quickly to meet the demand of customers in the Maritimes and expanded its flight service from Halifax to the popular vacation destination of Varadero. Beginning in March, Sunwing will be offering East Coast residents with another convenient weekly flight on Thursdays starting on March 10, 2022 until April 28, 2022. As the only Atlantic Canada gateway offering flights to Cuba this winter, we’re thrilled to be introducing another flight from Halifax to Read more
Sunwing is making it easier than ever for Canadians to reunite and explore their own backyard this summer with the return of their domestic summer program. Now in its 17th year, the program offers something for everyone to enjoy, from bustling city streets to majestic mountains, sprawling prairies and picturesque lakes. Flights begin in May and will run weekly until the beginning of September to some of the most sought-after destinations from coast to coast. As an added travel incentive, the tour operator is offering customers savings of up to $200 per couple on domestic flights. “We’re thrilled that our domestic program Read more
The union representing 14,000 flight attendants across Canada says the federal government needs to listen and act decisively to make cabin environments safe for workers and the flying public amid the current surge of the omicron variant. To that effect, Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and CUPE’s Airline Division, has written to federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, demanding the government get serious about the health and safety concerns of airline workers. “The Cancun party flight is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what our members experience Read more
The Canadian government has “intercepted and interrogated” some 27 of 130 passengers on board the now infamous Sunwing party flight from Montreal to Mexico. Speaking at a news conference today in Ottawa, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said authorities are continuing their investigation and that the government of Quebec is looking at “penal and criminal issues” surrounding the flight. “Transport Canada rules were broken,” he said. Video footage surfaced this week showing influencers and Quebec reality TV actors partying on a flight from Montreal to Cancun on December 30. A bottle of vodka appeared at one point, and passengers were dancing Read more
