The Trudeau government says the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will soon launch a new Verified Traveller program that will offer a faster and more efficient screening experience for eligible travellers at select airports across Canada. The news was quickly welcomed by a lobby group of Canadian business people, which called it a “forward-thinking” plan that will “improve the security screening experience for eligible travellers.” Ottawa said the new Verified Traveller program will replace the current Trusted Traveller program. By June 21, 2023, dedicated Verified Traveller screening lines will be available at select domestic and international checkpoints in the Read more
toronto. Pearson Airport
Air Canada will begin direct flights between Toronto and Sacramento on June 3, 2023, with four flights per week. Here’s a story I wrote for the Postmedia newspaper group several years ago. SACRAMENTO – This used to be the Rodney Dangerfield of California cities, a government town that never got the kind of attention heaped on San Francisco or Los Angeles. But wonderful, local food, relatively affordable rents and a great location – 90 minutes from San Francisco and less than that to the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains – have brought in a number of young entrepreneurs looking to make Read more
We all remember the headlines from last summer: “Canadian airport chaos,” “A sea of lost bags,” and “Toronto Pearson ranked worst airport in world.” I did a series of CBC radio interviews last Friday to talk about whether we’ll see a repeat of the 2022 Summer of Travel Chaos. Here’s what I had to say. What do thing look like for the summer of 2023? There appears to be tons of demand. Air Canada last Friday reported operating revenues for the first quarter of this year were nearly double 2022 numbers. A Mastercard report issued last Thursday found that leisure Read more
Toronto Pearson Airport passenger traffic nearly doubled in the first quarter of this year. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority Passenger activity significantly increased by 4.8 million or 90.4 per cent to 10.0 million during the first quarter of 2023, when compared to the same period of 2022. Passenger activity increased due to the pent-up travel demand and the removal of pandemic-related government travel restrictions that existed during the first quarter of 2022. During the first quarter of 2023, passenger activity recovered to 86.0 per cent of the first quarter of 2019 passenger activity. “Strong growth in passenger traffic continuing into Read more
Visit California says the Golden State’s tourism industry grew 32 percent in 2022 and that the state is poised to pass pre-pandemic records for visitor spending, employment and tax generation. “I’m happy to report California tourism has bounced back from the devastating human and economic toll of the pandemic and continues to provide value for all Californians,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, the state’s tourism marketing organization. “California’s iconic destinations are again welcoming visitors from around the world, growing tourism’s economic contributions beyond 2019 levels and putting hundreds of thousands back to work.” Visit California officials Read more
