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Monday, May 4, 2026
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Exclusive: Bring on Belfast! Trevello’s 2026 conference, "Building Bridges," with Brendan Vacations kicked off Sunday night (May 3) in Northern Ireland’s capital. The event coincides with Canada becoming the Emerald Isle’s fourth-largest overseas market, while Northern Ireland gains momentum through fresh investment in tourism. Having Trevello advisors experience the destination is "something we're quite excited about," says George Diamondis of Tourism Northern Ireland. PAX reports on location.
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Transat and Porter are launching Transat packages that combine Porter's non-stop flights to Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta with Transat’s tour operator expertise. “These additions mark a significant enhancement to Transat’s South destination portfolio,” says Renée Boisvert, VP of tour operator products at Transat. They will be available from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton for travel on or after Nov. 1.
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Jamaica has once again proven its resilience with the reopening of Half Moon Resort. On April 2, the beachfront property with three experiences marked a milestone in its post-hurricane recovery, reopening its Eclipse and Villa sections. At the centre of the restart is Shernette Crichton, who recently became the resort’s first female managing director. She was in Toronto last week to share updates with the trade.
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Spirit Airlines is shutting down after failing to secure a $500 million (USD) bailout from the Trump administration. The budget carrier had been negotiating with the U.S. government on a rescue package. However, talks ultimately broke down. The airline began an orderly wind-down of operations on Saturday, cancelling flights, leaving many passengers and crew stranded.
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Ottawa has announced plans to raise the maximum fine imposed on airlines for repeated violations of the air passenger bill of rights to $1 million. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon shared the news at a press conference on Friday (May 1). "When there is a clear breach, there should be a stiff penalty and one that dissuades these events from happening again," he said.
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Airlines in the United Kingdom may scale back or merge flights this summer to save on jet fuel, as ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to affect supply. Under proposed government legislation announced on Sunday (May 3), airlines would be allowed to combine flights on routes with multiple daily departures, helping to avoid last-minute cancellations.
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From reworking a 100-plus-person March Break group after Jamaica’s hurricane disruption to building his own AI tools, Peartree Vacations’ founder Martin Pirier talks growth, competition and why “fake it till you make it” has been his mindset from day one in today's Monday Minute.
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Three people have died and a UK national is in a critical condition in hospital in South Africa following a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a small cruise ship in the Atlantic. The ship’s operator, the Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions, says the deceased include a Dutch couple and a German passenger, although the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, reports the BBC.
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U.S. authorities are investigating an incident in which a United Airlines aircraft hit a light pole and a truck while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon (May 3), reports say. Early findings by police suggest a tire from the aircraft’s landing gear, along with part of the plane’s underside, struck both a light pole and a tractor-trailer.
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Porter Airlines is expanding its Ottawa (YOW) schedule with the launch of daily service to Windsor (YQG) and Sudbury (YSB), adding more options for travel within Ontario and beyond. "Travellers have non-stop access to the nation’s capital and to an increasing number of connecting flights across the country," said Porter's Andrew Pierce, VP, network planning and reporting.
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Flair Airlines has returned to St. John’s International Airport (YYT), bringing non-stop seasonal service between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Newfoundland and Labrador. “St. John’s is one of the most memorable destinations in Canada," said Len Corrado, CEO of Flair Airlines. Flair’s return to St. John’s reflects growing demand for travel to Atlantic Canada during peak seasons.
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Hurtigruten has appointed Jordan Freese as its first-ever group sales and operations manager for North America. She comes from Incredible Adventures, where she was the general manager, and will be Hurtigruten’s first fully-dedicated resource allocated to groups following the split from HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) in early 2024.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Air Canada has scrapped its full-year guidance after geopolitical tensions in Iran drove up jet fuel prices and created uncertainty around travel demand. Fuel costs—normally about 25% of operating expenses—have surged to nearly double their previous levels since the conflict began. Air Canada posted a net profit of $48 million in the first quarter, a turnaround from last year's $102 million net loss.
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Year-over-year Canadian travel to the United States declined by double digits in 2025, and if the latest data is any indication, that trend shows no signs of slowing. But can New York City, one of the most visited destinations in the world, turn things around? PAX speaks to Julie Coker, president and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions, in Toronto during a sales mission.
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This month, it's all about you, travel advisors. The travel industry is taking time in May to travel advisors worldwide, marking Travel Agent Day—an annual event held on the first Wednesday of May (May 6) and observed throughout the entire month. The discounts, prizes and contests are coming in hot. See PAX's roundup of the latest supplier promotions!
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