With Canadians showing less interest in flying to the US, two major Canadian airlines are adding capacity to the Caribbean, Mexico, South America and Europe. Air Canada today announced its winter sun schedule, reflecting its largest network expansion to Latin America to date with 16% more seat capacity over last winter. Highlights of the carrier’s new services for the winter 2025-26 season include new destinations to Rio de Janeiro, Cartagena, Guatemala City, and Guadalajara. As well, 13 new routes including Santiago (Chile), Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Fort-de-France (Martinique), Nassau, Montego Bay, and Huatulco (Mexico) are being introduced, along with additional frequencies to Read more
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi For Aeroplan Members Coming to Air Canada; Florida, Hawaii, Carolina Seek Disaster Relief
It’s about to get a lot easier to stay in touch at 35,000 feet. Air Canada says it plans to roll out fast, free streaming-quality Wi-Fi on many of its flights next spring. The service will be available to Aeroplan Members on Wi-Fi equipped aircraft for flights within North American and Sun markets beginning in May, 2025. The airline also plans to expand free Wi-Fi service to long-haul international routes in 2026. “Reliable access to streaming-quality Wi-Fi is becoming essential for both business and leisure travellers. That’s why we’re upgrading our fleet with the latest technologies,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Read more
Is your data safe while travelling for work? According to Flight Centre Travel Group’s Chief Privacy Officer, Meida Wong, business travellers are at risk and should be aware of how to safeguard their data while travelling. “In today’s digital age, the volume of personal information we share for various activities has exponentially increased. You may be online shopping, ordering food delivery, downloading mobile applications, playing an online game, or simply browsing the web and your personal data is at play. In a world where such information commands high value, it’s vital to secure it, particularly when travelling,” said Wong. Here Read more
It could take another three years for Ontario’s tourism industry to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a major new study says. A report from The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, released today, calls for sweeping changes, including keeping the Ontario staycation tax credit, boosting cannabis tourism, providing better train and rapid transit service, giving indigenous tourism a push, and boosting affordable housing for workers. The study says tourism businesses in Canada’s most populous province are generating less than two-thirds (64%) of the revenues they saw in 2019, and that 70% have taken on debt Read more
Messy, smelly rooms, thin toilet paper and outrageous parking charges are some of the things that drive us crazy about hotel stays. A company called PhotoAiD surveyed more than 1,000 travellers to find out what drives them crazy about hotels. The biggest pet peeve for hotel visitors was an unclean room, cited by 48.85% of respondents. Closely behind, and directly related, was a hotel room with a bad smell (48.65%). (Our kids still laugh at the time we were driving home to Toronto from a March break visit to Florida and stopped at an inexpensive chain hotel for the night. Read more