Travelweek AUthors

Few sectors within the travel industry have been hit as hard by COVID-19 as cruising.

When Nexion got its start in 1995, airlines were capping and then cutting commissions. The caps and cuts, combined with the exponential growth of OTAs in those days, made for a one-two punch for travel agencies, and many predicted that the traditional retail distribution chain would never recover.

Building up a client list and generating some bookings as a brand new travel agent is a challenge at any time. Doing it during a pandemic? The mind boggles.

Two route maps from Orlando Airport show the stark impact COVID-19 has had on one of the world’s most popular vacation spots.

WestJet isn’t the first airline to pull its flights from a once-robust market amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and it likely won’t be the last.

Back before COVID-19 changed just about everything, Air Canada was set to buy Transat for $720 million. Now under new terms just announced by both companies, the sale price is much lower: $190 million.

No one wants another lockdown, but a second wave of the pandemic is looming - and many say it’s happening already. Businesses that reopened their doors this summer may face closures again, and that includes travel agencies. Meanwhile Canada’s travel restrictions are nearing the seven-month mark.

An agent’s ‘to-do’ list these days is mind-boggling.

When Nexion got its start in 1995, airlines were capping and then cutting commissions. The caps and cuts, combined with the exponential growth of OTAs in those days, made for a one-two punch for travel agencies, and many predicted that the traditional retail distribution chain would never recover.

In recent weeks major players including Air Canada, Sunwing, WestJet, ACV and Manulife have introduced travel insurance coverage for COVID-19. And just today, Transat announced new coverage as well.