News that has caught Chris' eye in the Travel World

2017 the safest year to fly ever! (3 January, 2018)

Let’s start the New Year with the comforting news that the last year was the safest year for commercial air travel ever - with only 111 accidents and 13 deaths worldwide. The two fatal accidents both involved small regional planes, one in Angola and the other in Russia. So: according to the Dutch aviation consultancy, To70, that's a rate of just one fatal accident for every 16 million flights. Which is roughly twenty three times less than the odds of being struck by lightning!

New airline routes from Toronto (27 December, 2017)

There are some new airline routes launched this month which will be of interest to vacationers in Ontario.

Sunwing has begun flying direct from Toronto to the tiny ABC island of Bonaire. The ABC islands are the three islands of the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean, the other two of which – Aruba and Curacao – have long been favourites with Canadians. With the addition of Bonaire, Sunwing are opening up the smallest island of the group. It has long been known as one of the top diving destinations in the world, boasting 86 dive sites which are home to 57 different corals and some 350 marine species. But it is also a great destination for wind and surf kiters, eco-tourists and beach lovers who are looking for somewhere quiet and almost guaranteed to be sunny and warm - even in the depths of our winter.

Air Canada is now flying nonstop from Toronto to Cartagena in the southern Caribbean. This UNESCO World Heritage Site destination on Colombia’s northern coast combines cultural heritage with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean…and then of course, there’s the coffee!  Cartagena is the third new Caribbean route this winter for Air Canada out of Toronto, the other new services being to Belize and St Vincent.

Flair Airlines begins service in Canada (19 December, 2017)
 

There are now more options to fly between Toronto, Edmonton, Kelowna and Vancouver. British Columbia based Flair Airlines begins service as the first low-fare carrier in Canada to fly from Vancouver International Airport, Toronto Pearson Airport and Kelowna International airport. I reported on the airline’s plans to expand its route network in September. Service will include Toronto to Edmonton, seven times weekly, Vancouver, one-stop four times weekly, and Kelowna, one-stop three times weekly.

Flair is arguably the only Ultra Low Cost Airline in Canada at present. Over the last six months they have expanded their route network, increased their aircraft fleet with two more Boeing 737s, and made it easier for customers to purchase air tickets. Flair plans to be operating twelve aircraft by the spring of 2019. So check out their website at www.FlairAirlines.com.