MONTRÉAL — Canadians are dreaming of swapping winter coats for swimsuits, and Air Canada is adding more routes to help make those sunny escapes happen.
New research commissioned by the airline and conducted by Ipsos found that 72% of surveyed Canadians consider relaxation and recharging important when choosing a destination, while 55% say there are many winter destinations they have yet to explore. Another 36% say the appeal of trying somewhere new is the possibility of finding a new favourite.
“Canadians love their favourite winter escapes, but our research shows many are curious about destinations beyond the familiar,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo at Air Canada. “Our expanded winter network is designed to offer our customers more choice, more non-stop options and more opportunities to discover somewhere new, while continuing to serve the destinations Canadians return to year after year – with the confidence that comes from travelling with Air Canada.”
WHERE TRAVELLERS WANT TO GO
The survey found that 37% of respondents consider destinations in Central and South America, including Colombia and Peru, unfamiliar but places they would still like to visit. Another 33% said the same about long-haul Asia-Pacific destinations.
Hawaii tops the list of potential future winter escapes, cited by 49% of respondents, followed by Costa Rica at 47% and Australia at 41%.
Safety, healthcare quality and political stability are among the factors Canadians consider when choosing a winter destination, alongside financial risk and weather.
EXPANDED WINTER SERVICE
Air Canada’s expanded winter schedule includes service to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, Roatán, Santo Domingo, Mérida and Mazatlán, along with additional seasonal routes from Canadian gateways.
From Montréal, travellers can fly to Tenerife, Roatán, Santo Domingo, Quito and Aruba. Toronto service includes Tenerife, Roatán, Quito and Mérida, while Vancouver’s winter destinations include Mazatlán, Monterrey, Liberia and Puerto Escondido.
Calgary will offer service to Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, while Edmonton and Winnipeg will have flights to Montego Bay. Winnipeg will also offer Punta Cana service. Québec City will have service to Pointe-à-Pitre and Halifax to Bridgetown.
Air Canada’s broader network also connects Canadians with destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Bangkok, Manila, Sydney and Buenos Aires, alongside established sun favourites such as Cancún, Aruba, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
For more information, go to www.aircanada.com.
