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Thursday, April 2, 2026
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“What inspired you to become a travel advisor?” Each week in PAX’s “Monday Minute” column—a Q&A feature written by front-line advisors—we ask this question, and the answers often spark stories as unique and inspiring as the journeys travel professionals create. Here, we share some standout stories from advisors explaining what drew them to the travel industry.
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Ottawa pushed for rules that gave airlines more leeway to avoid paying passengers compensation, even as Canada’s transport regulator resisted, the Canadian Press has found.
Following legislation to reform the Air Passenger Protection Regulations in 2023, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) had proposed rules that would prevent airlines from using technical issues as a reason to deny compensation for flight disruptions.
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An internal document suggests that air traffic controller staffing at LaGuardia Airport on the night an Air Canada Express plane struck a fire truck may have breached the facility’s procedures by combining positions before midnight.
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Transborder travel from Canada to the United States fell 10.2 per cent in February, marking a 13th straight month of decline, according to Statistics Canada. Overall passenger volumes rose 1.0 per cent, with growth driven by domestic and international (non-U.S.) travel across Canada’s eight largest airports.
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Trafalgar is introducing a 60 per cent off travel advisor rate across select 2026 European river cruise sailings. "Travel advisors rely on the credibility of their recommendations, and firsthand experience is key to selling with confidence,” said Whitney Ramirez, SVP Sales, TTC Tour Brands.
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Air Transat, in collaboration with RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport, held a successful FAM trip from March 14 to 22, 2026, in Brazil, following the launch of non-stop flights connecting Toronto and Montreal to Rio de Janeiro.
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MSC Cruises Canada is expanding its Fly & Cruise program with an exclusive bundle designed specifically for Canadian travellers sailing from La Romana, Dominican Republic for Winter 2026-2027.
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On March 31, 2026, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario’s (TICO) Board of Directors approved one claim against the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund, totalling $165 to assist one consumer who did not receive the travel services for which they had paid. The approved Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund claim is Temple & Temple Tours Inc.
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Viking’s two newest ships for the Nile River—the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet—have been floated out, marking a construction milestone and the first time the ships have touched water. Set to debut in September and November 2026, the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet will join the company’s fleet of ships in Egypt and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
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Explora Journeys has extended its “An Invitation to Explora” offer until April 28, 2026. Advisors can access savings of up to 30 per cent and a reduced 10 per cent deposit across all suite categories and Journeys Collections, with select exclusions and combinability with key booking incentives and programs.
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Cunard will celebrate 2026 with every Transatlantic Crossing featuring an expanded program of world-class entertainment. The luxury British cruise line is this year’s Headline Partner of the prestigious Olivier Awards. Cunard’s London Theatre at Sea in partnership with the Olivier Awards Event Voyage will bring the magic of the West End to the Atlantic.
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Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened its first hotel in Niagara Falls, ON, which doubles as the closest Canadian hotel to the Falls. The hotel has 42 floors with 611 upscale rooms. It will also serve as a destination for meetings, conferences, and milestone gatherings.
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Avalon Waterways says travellers are seeking experiences that feel more personal, more spacious and more connected. According to new guest research from the river cruise line, 62 per cent of travellers say they prefer cruising on ships carrying fewer than 150 guests. “A smaller ship changes how a journey feels,” says Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Qantas Airways has requested unlimited passenger capacity on flights between Australia and Canada, taking advantage of a newly implemented open-skies agreement, according to reports. The airline has sought unlimited passenger rights to Canada for the next 99 years, a request that would apply to the airline, its subsidiaries and codeshare partners, including WestJet.
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"Those images were hard to watch, but that's not Jalisco." Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican state of Jalisco Michelle Fridman sat down with PAX’s Michael Pihach in Toronto on Monday (March 30) to address the violent events that shook Puerto Vallarta on February 22, separate fact from fiction, and share what travel advisors can do to help the region's tourism recovery.
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Due to the increase in global fuel prices, Air Canada Vacations (ACV) has announced a new surcharge across all sun destinations. According to a memo sent to trade partners this week, a fixed $50 per-passenger surcharge will be applied to new ACV bookings that include a flight component, effective April 6. “Transparency with the trade remains a priority for us," the company tells PAX.
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