The 10 most-read PAX News stories of 2025

The travel industry doesn’t do slow news years.

From political headwinds to labour showdowns to bold airline and cruise moves, 2025 was anything but quiet for Canada’s travel sector.

As the year unravelled, U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs sent ripples across the border, influencing travel policies and consumer sentiment alike.

Some Canadians reconsidered where and how they travel, with a noticeable cohort choosing to boycott the U.S. altogether, reshaping booking patterns.

It was also a volatile year on the labour front. Air Canada’s flight attendant strike brought operations to a near standstill for three tense days. It was a stark reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in this business.

Meanwhile, Air Transat’s pilot negotiations went right down to the wire, averting a strike at the final hour, underscoring the fragility—and importance—of collaboration in keeping planes in the sky.

Add to that Porter Airlines’ headline-making launch of sun destinations – further disrupting traditional ideas of economy travel – and it’s clear that complacency has no place in aviation.

Cruise lines are no exception, with Europe’s rivers drawing attention as new competitors, like Celebrity, enter the market.

Make no mistake: the travel industry once again proved it’s anything but boring.

Yet through it all, the sector remained resilient, adaptive and open to change.

Travel advisors navigated uncertainty, shifting policies and operational chaos, emerging smarter and more agile on the other side.

And as news broke—often fast and furiously—PAX there to report on the stories that mattered most. Real-time, around-the-clock coverage—no twist or turn missed.

So, what captured readers’ attention this year? These are PAX's ten most-read stories of 2025 – presented in chronological order.

Sunwing releases framework for Cuban hotels to “set clear expectations” (Jan. 21, 2025)

The year opened with Sunwing Vacations unveiling a three-tier rating system for its Cuban all-inclusive resorts, with the goal of improving transparency in bookings.

As PAX reported in November 2024, Sunwing started developing the framework to help travellers – and travel advisors – better understand the type of Cuban property they were in for.

The company sought to clarify questions like, “What does a five-star hotel in Cuba really offer, and how does it differ from a three-star?"

During this same period – and as PAX first reported – Sunwing also removed 26 hotels from its Cuba portfolio due to quality concerns.

The moves came while Cuba recovered from a series of widely publicized power outages in 2024.

While the outages affected various parts of the island, airports and most resorts remained operational, relying on backup generators to sustain tourism services.

While the situation prompted some damage control efforts, Cuba still welcomed 860,877 Canadian visitors last year, according to data from the Cuba Tourist Board.

One year later, Cuba continues to restore traveller confidence. This past fall, the country's Minister of Tourism Juan Carlos García Granda visited Toronto to highlight infrastructure and operational improvements made across the island over the past year.

Sunwing’s tier system for Cuban resorts also continues to evolve.

Since last year, the tour operator has removed even more hotels—beyond the initial 26—from its Cuba portfolio. 

And it no longer sells Cuban properties rated below three stars.

Trump's tariffs – Should the Canadian travel industry be worried? (Jan. 21, 2025)

Early in the year, U.S. President Donald Trump moved to introduce tariffs on Canadian goods (and goods from elsewhere), sparking trade tensions between the two countries.

While the measures were primarily economic, they quickly spilled over into public sentiment, setting the stage for noticeable shifts in Canadian travel behaviour.

Many Canadians responded by boycotting U.S. travel (some reacting to Trump's annexation threats); snowbirds, faced with new entry restrictions, opted not to spend winters south of the border.

PAX posed the question, “Should the Canadian travel industry be worried?” to a panel of industry leaders—Zeina Gedeon of Trevello, Gregory Luciani of TravelOnly, and Flemming Friisdahl of The Travel Agent Next Door—to hear some early perspectives.

Sharing insights into the geopolitical impact on travel, our commentators unpacked potential shifts in spending behaviour and countries that were likely to benefit from the conflict.

Statistics Canada has since reported an ongoing decline in Canadian visits to the U.S., both by automobile and by air. And after nearly a year, it appears the downward trend is levelling off. 

Still, this did not appear to signal a drop in Canadians’ overall desire to travel. Instead, travel demand has been redirected, with some Canadians choosing alternative international destinations.

But the impact isn’t uniform. While some corners of the travel industry felt little effect, others had reason to worry—especially travel advisors who specialize in U.S. theme parks, where rising costs and shifting consumer sentiment could curb demand.

The takeaway, nearly 12 months later? The Canadian travel industry should adapt, but not necessarily panic.

Celebrity will start offering river cruises in 2027 (Jan. 28, 2025)

Topping this year’s cruise news in clicks was Celebrity’s move into river cruising.

The premium cruise line, which will debut on Europe’s rivers in spring 2027, will launch its new venture on the Danube and Rhine rivers with two ships: “Celebrity Compass” and “Celebrity Seeker.”

The brand, which has shared renderings of its new vessels, is promising an innovative approach to river cruising with amenities like the “Magic Edge” – the first-ever cantilevered dining pods – an infinity-edge plunge pool and “Skylight Infinite Balcony Suites.”

While Europe’s rivers are already heavily trafficked, the move is undeniably bold.

Celebrity will extend its Captain’s Club loyalty tiers to river vacations, potentially attracting a new wave of river customers.

And the company is in it for the long term. Currently, 10 river ships are on order. The plan calls for the launch of two 180-passenger river ships in 2027, with an expansion of up to four additional vessels each year thereafter.

Celebrity’s inaugural 2027 river season reportedly sold out in under five hours, though sources suggest limited availability may still remain.

Delta plane crashes at Toronto Pearson (Feb. 17, 2025)

Arguably this year’s biggest “WTF” moment, the Delta Air Lines crash at Toronto Pearson airport sparked significant reader interest.

On February 17, 2025, Delta Connection Flight 4819, operated by Endeavor Air on behalf of Delta Air Lines, crash-landed at Canada's busiest airport after arriving from Minneapolis–St. Paul.

The regional Bombardier CRJ-900LR (which had 80 people on board, including 22 Canadians) flipped and came to rest upside down on the runway during landing.

Miraculously, all 80 passengers survived. Some 21 people were injured and others were hospitalized with non-fatal injuries.

Preliminary investigations by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found the aircraft had a high rate of descent just before touchdown, triggering warnings seconds before impact.

After landing, the landing gear collapsed, part of the wing detached, and the plane flipped and slid on its roof. By the time the plane stopped, leaving behind a trail of fire, it had flipped completely over, leaving passengers dangling from their seats like bats.

The exact sequence of events is still under investigation, according to the TSB.

Delta later offered each passenger a no-strings-attached cash payment of $30,000, but the incident raised some serious questions about aviation safety this year.

Survivors have since gone public to share their stories from that scary day, including one man who said he’ll never be the same.

Canadian Snowbirds caught up in new U.S. travel rule (March 10, 2025)

U.S. President Donald Trump’s mandate to protect Americans from “invasion” had an unlikely target: retired Canadian baby boomers escaping winter's nip. 

This year, the U.S. implemented new travel rules for Canadian snowbirds as part of strengthened border security and long-term visitor management, requiring registration and biometric data for stays exceeding 30 days.

The requirement, which took effect in April, is to register online with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) using Form G-325R if you don't receive an I-94 form upon entry.

A separate biometric entry/exit rule for photos/fingerprints was also announced, causing some confusion as Canadians were later said to be exempt from this requirement (but snowbirds – and all Canadians for that matter – should still be prepared for the possibility).

Luckily, Snowbird Advisor, a one-stop resource for snowbirds, has released an easy-to-follow guide to help Canadians visiting the U.S. for 30 days or more navigate the new registration requirements.

PAX’s coverage of this topic generated thousands of clicks – and we can see why.

Despite a dip in enthusiasm for the United States, a recent survey of 4,000 Canadian snowbirds shows that 70 per cent still plan to spend winter there.

WestJet completes integration of Sunwing Airlines – what agents need to know (May 28, 2025)

A new era for leisure travel – mixed with orange and teal.

WestJet completed its merger of Sunwing Airlines Inc. on the heels of integrating its low-cost subsidy Swoop and adding aircraft from Lynx Air, which ceased operations in 2024.

The WestJet Group acquired Sunwing (Airlines and Vacations) in May 2023 and the decision to integrate the airline was part of a strategy to deliver competitive travel options and greater overall value for Canadians in sun and leisure markets.

The integration included some need-to-knows for the trade. For example, customers who book vacation packages with Sunwing Vacations or WestJet Vacations now travel on aircraft operated by WestJet Airlines.

The transition also meant that Sunwing vacation package customers now check in using a WestJet PNR, with updated baggage policies, onboard services, seating options, and operational oversight, while Sunwing Vacations continues to manage the land components of the journey.

Meanwhile, WestJet integrating Sunwing's aircraft, including 18 Boeing 737s, came with cabin reconfigurations to align them with WestJet's standard Premium, Economy, Extended Comfort, and UltraBasic seating.

The company is still reconfiguring its remaining all-economy airplanes, which should be completed by 2026 summer peak, says WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.

David & Goliath: How one independent travel advisor took on the CRA—and won (May 29, 2025).

We thought pandemic-era stories about federal aid were behind us—until an independent travel advisor brought a major victory to our attention.

In May, Ontario-based Judith Coates of Wired for Travel achieved what many in the industry might deem impossible: winning a battle against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) over $33,000 in COVID-era benefits.

In a nutshell: after a long fight, Coates received a letter from the CRA confirming that she was eligible for both the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), marking the end of a multi-year saga.

When the travel industry screeched to a near-halt in early 2020, independent travel advisors (ITAs) saw their income vanish overnight. And unlike storefront agencies, which qualified for wage and rent subsidies, several ITAs were left to fend for themselves.

For many, including Coates, the CERB and later CRB programs were the only resources available.

That year, Coates, and many of her colleagues, started receiving government-issued benefits that proved to be a crucial lifeline.

But that relief turned into anxiety when, in October 2023, Coates received a letter from the CRA stating she was not eligible for the benefits she had received.

The Canadian government wanted the money back – $33,000 to be exact.

Like many ITAs, Coates had used the funds to survive during one of the most financially devastating periods of her career. The CRA’s decision didn’t sit right with her, so she appealed.

Coates submitted all kinds of documents—bank statements, commission records—but her appeal was denied. She tried again, and by February 2024, the CRA remained unmoved, determining that she still wasn’t entitled to the payouts.

With few options left, Coates filed a federal judicial review—a last-resort move – with the help of a law firm.  

After additional back-and-forth and providing supporting materials – including this PAX video highlighting Canadian MPs’ acknowledgment of ITAs’ struggles – the CRA eventually changed its ruling

It was a hard-fought triumph – a true David-and-Goliath tale – yet frustratingly unnecessary, as Coates had apparently been eligible for the benefits all along.

CTA approves Porter’s requests to operate flights to Costa Rica, Jamaica & the U.K. (June 9, 2025)

Porter Airlines ramped up its expansion this year, adding numerous routes to sun destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Fuelled by E195-E2 aircraft from Embraer (its 50th just arrived), and a promise to disrupt economy flying with free Wi-Fi, no middle seats, complimentary wine and beer service in glassware and premium snacks, the Toronto-based airline started winter with 13 new routes to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Nassau, Grand Cayman, and Liberia (Costa Rica) – from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Hamilton airports.

Porter’s sun debut came sooner than expected – as PAX first reported, the winter program, adding to an already-robust transborder and domestic schedule, was "accelerated" by the U.S. slowdown due to tariff-related developments (and possibly the weak Canadian loonie).

The industry could see it all coming once the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) began approving Porter’s requests to operate flights to Costa Rica, Jamaica and the United Kingdom.

PAX’s reporting on the CTA’s publicly-released decisions about Porter's route expansion drove substantial web traffic.

And just to be clear, the U.K. mention refers to the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory. Not London, England.

“A challenging week”: Travel pros welcome end of Air Canada strike, but call out unpaid work & chaos (Aug. 19, 2025)

The Canadian travel industry breathed a sigh of relief after Air Canada and the union representing its 10,400 flight attendants reached a tentative agreement, ending a stressful strike that impacted an estimated 500,000 travellers.

In August 2025, more than 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants walked off the job after months of stalled contract talks over wages and unpaid work time, grounding the entire airline and cancelling hundreds of flights amid peak travel season. 

The union, part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), argued that current pay failed to keep up with inflation and did not compensate crew for time spent on the ground before takeoff and after landing.

After repeatedly rejecting government issued back to work orders and defying a Canada Industrial Relations Board ruling declaring the strike unlawful, both sides returned to the bargaining table. 

By August 19, a tentative agreement was reached that included improved wages and benefits and addressed ground work pay, ending the three-day walkout. 

However, when the deal went to a vote, flight attendants overwhelmingly rejected the wage portion, leaving further negotiations and mediation ahead.

Canadian travel advisors were stretched to the limit during the strike, working tirelessly—often unpaid—to rebook stranded clients and manage chaos.

While relieved by the tentative deal, many voiced frustration over the lack of compensation for their extra work, emphasizing that their expertise is crucial during such disruptions.

That conversation seemed to strike the strongest chord with PAX readers

Strike averted: Air Transat reaches tentative agreement with pilots’ union (Dec. 9, 2025)

Air Transat was next to face off in labour negotiations.

In late 2025, pilots at Air Transat escalated a long running labour dispute that threatened to disrupt travel during the peak December holiday season.

The roughly 750 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), had been negotiating a new collective agreement since early 2025; their previous contract had expired and, according to the union, was outdated and below industry standards.

Pilots sought improved pay, job security, working conditions and quality of life.

On December 3, members overwhelmingly voted to authorize strike action—with about 99 per cent in favour—giving ALPA the legal right to call a work stoppage if no deal was reached.

A mandatory cooling off period ended around December 10, opening the door for a strike or lockout under Canadian labour law.

In anticipation of a walkout, ALPA issued a 72 hour strike notice in early December, meaning the earliest possible strike start would have been mid week around December 10.

The airline began to cancel flights and adjust schedules, affecting dozens of departures from Montreal and Toronto as the deadline approached.

But just hours before the strike was to begin, Air Transat and the pilots’ union reached a tentative collective agreement that averted the walkout.

The deal, said to boost the pilots’ salaries by 60 per cent, is now subject to ratification by union members.

Close contenders!

While the above articles led the pack in clicks, several others attracted plenty of eye balls.

Here are 10 bonus stories from 2025 that also resonated big time with the PAX community:

1. New carry-on fees! Air Canada’s new fees for carry-on luggage come into effect (Jan. 6, 2025)
2. Border-hopping at Trevello! Trevello World Holdings acquires U.S.-based Gifted Travel Network (Jan. 8, 2025)
3. Respect the grind! 8 things Canadian travel advisors would change about the travel industry (Jan. 17, 2025).
4. Dreams checks out! Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica to exit Hyatt's Inclusive Collection (March 9, 2025)
5. Booked by brilliance! PAX presents the 10 Most Fascinating Travel Advisors of 2025 (May 7, 2025)
6. Sandals doubles down! New Beaches resort set to open in Saint Vincent & The Grenadines (May 8, 2025) 
7. Minority sold, major flex! Delta, Korean Air’s 25% stake in WestJet – what does it all mean? (May 12, 2025)
8. Cue the acid-green lights! Flair launches B2B strategy, tour operator, “Express” option, more bundles & resale option (Oct. 17, 2025)
9. Jamaica bounces back! Jamaica's hotels announce reopening dates following Hurricane Melissa (Nov. 13, 2025)
10. The Travel Agent Across The Pond! The Travel Agent Next Door forms equity partnership with UK-based Travel Counsellors (Dec. 2, 2025)

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.