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Tuesday, November 4, 2025
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Rio calling! PAX recently joins Canadian travel advisors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where Air Canada will be launching seasonal direct flights, out of Toronto, starting Dec. 4, 2025. From Copacabana Beach, we spoke to Air Canada's Edna Ray, senior manager, regional sales, and Ana Paula De Souza, director, sales – Canada and global accounts (who are both from Rio) to learn more.
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Start your engines! Air Canada Vacations “Celebration Under the Sun” – its 50th anniversary party – kicks off in Cancun, Mexico today (Nov. 4), bringing together an all-star guest list of travel advisors, supplier partners and media. The “Golden” event, which includes two chartered flights, began Tuesday morning with festivities at airports in Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), and Vancouver (YVR).
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The Scenic Group is entering an “Ikon-ic” era. The global team behind the Australian-founded company was in Toronto Monday (Nov. 3) to unpack the newest addition to its “Discovery Yacht” fleet, “Scenic Ikon." The 26,500-gross-ton ship, which will accommodate up to 270 guests in 135 all-verandah suites across five decks, is set to debut in April 2028. Industry leaders gathered at the Globe and Mail Centre to get a sneak peek.
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Disappointed with the unsuccessful negotiations, pilot leaders at Air Transat will ask their members, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), to give them the authority to go on strike if an agreement can’t be reached by December 10, 2025. The pilots' negotiating team say talks have been “frustratingly slow,” reads a press release issued Nov. 3.
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TravelBrands has promoted Donna Engler to Business Development Manager for Alberta and Saskatchewan, effective Dec. 1, 2025. Engler brings more than 15 years of industry experience across retail travel, tour operations and the airline sector. In her new role, she will support advisors in both provinces and work to strengthen regional partnerships.
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Sandals Resorts International has set Dec. 6, 2025 as the reopening date for five Jamaica properties following Hurricane Melissa. Three remaining Jamaica resorts are expected to reopen May 30, 2026. Sandals says the timeline reflects post-storm assessments and work completed at each location.
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After more than 40 years, Club Med has decided to sell its Ixtapa property in Mexico. The all-inclusive resort, located in between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of the southern Sierra Madre, opened in 1983 and has undergone several renovations since then. “Our goal is to evolve with our guests," the company wrote in a closing notice posted to its website.
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Visits to the United States by Canadians may be down, but that didn’t stop Seattle’s tourism officials from travelling to Canada last week to remind the trade why the Pacific Northwest city is still well worth a visit. The sales mission came as Seattle – nicknamed the “Emerald City” for its year-round greenery – gears up to host the FIFA World Cup in June and July of 2026.
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Ensemble hosted its annual Summit at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City with more than 200 North American attendees. The consortium reported network growth, shared Census results and introduced new member tools and programs. Keynotes and sessions focused on what Ensemble members need to build stronger, more profitable travel businesses.
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Air Transat has launched its first direct Toronto–Medellín flight, connecting passengers via Cartagena. The new year-round service expands Air Transat’s South American network and offers greater travel options between Canada and Colombia. The route is operated with the Airbus A321LR, featuring Economy and Club Class cabins.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Cuba Tourist Board says Cuba has made “significant progress” in its recovery efforts across the eastern part of the island following the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba on Oct. 29 as a Category 3 storm. Local hotels mostly suffered “cosmetic damages,” the tourist board said.
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As the U.S. government shutdown approaches the two-month mark, airports nationwide are increasingly feeling the strain, with staffing shortages leading to mounting flight delays. This past weekend brought some of the toughest travel conditions so far at many U.S. airports, where seemingly endless lines of frustrated passengers stretched through terminals, reports say.
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Couples Resorts in Negril and Ocho Rios in Jamaica says that all of its guests and team members following Hurricane Melissa, which hit Jamaica as a Category 5 on Oct. 28. While a full assessment of the island is being done to ensure the hotel can safely receive guests and provide services, the properties will not be accepting new arrivals through November 15, 2025.
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