Here’s what you need to know about the Nexus application process update

OTTAWA - Canadian and U.S. border agencies say they have a plan to reduce the backlog for the Nexus trusted-traveller program. Here's what you need to know:

Where does the program stand now?

Travellers who want the streamlined border-crossing benefits of a Nexus card need to go in for an enrolment centre interview by both Canadian and U.S. officials before being granted one, but the Canadian enrolment centres have been closed for nearly a year because of a dispute over legal protections for American customs officers.

With the 13 centres in Canada closed, those looking to apply or renew their cards have had to try at the dozen ones on the U.S. side of the border where there have been long wait times for an appointment.

Flight delayed or canceled? Experts share some advice

Thousands of travelers were stranded at U.S. airports Wednesday due to an hours-long computer outage.

More than 1,100 U.S. flights were canceled and nearly 8,000 flights were delayed as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the tracking site FlightAware.

Even though the Federal Aviation Administration was at fault for the outage, airlines will be on the hook for refunds and other compensation. Kurt Ebenhoch, a consumer travel advocate and former airline executive, said passengers are entitled to a full refund if an airline cancels a flight for any reason.

Staying calm __ and knowing your rights __ can go a long way if your flight plans are disrupted, experts say. Here’s some of their advice for dealing with a flight delay or cancellation:

U.S. travel problems affecting transborder flights: Air Canada, WestJet

TORONTO - Air Canada and WestJet encouraged travellers headed to or from the U.S. to check their flights before going to the airport after a key computer outage at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration caused delays.

WestJet said six flights were delayed Wednesday morning because of the computer outage and none were cancelled, while Air Canada said the outage would have an effect on its transborder operations, but that it was not possible to determine the extent of the delays.

The FAA issued a grounding order for all departing aircraft Wednesday morning due to a problem with what is known as the Notice to Air Missions System (NOTAMs). The order remained in place until just before 9 a.m. ET.

Before commencing a flight, pilots are required to consult NOTAMs, which list potential adverse impacts on flights, from runway construction to the potential for icing. The system used to be telephone-based, with pilots calling dedicated flight service stations for the information, but has moved online.

Via Rail apologizes for holiday travel disruptions, communication failures

MONTREAL - Via Rail Canada is apologizing to travellers for extensive delays and cancellations over the holiday period as it offers refunds and travel credits.

Railway CEO Martin Landry says in a statement that beyond not having met the expectations of customers, Via Rail has not lived up to its own standards.

The railway says the combination of a severe winter storm and the derailment of a freight train led to disruptions between Dec. 23 and 26, particularly along the Québec City–Windsor corridor and elsewhere in Eastern Canada.

It says that while some factors were beyond its control, it should have been more forthcoming in sharing information about train delays and in communicating updates.

Icelandic budget airline to offer flights to Europe from Hamilton airport

An Icelandic airline is the latest in an increasingly crowded field of startup carriers vying for the hard-earned travel dollars of budget-conscious Canadians.

Reykjavik-based Play — which was founded in 2019 to offer low-cost air service between North America and Europe — announced Tuesday it is expanding to Canada.

The carrier said beginning June 2023, it will offer flights from Canada to 26 European destinations including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Brussels, Stockholm, and Gothenburg.

All of the Icelandic airline's new Canadian flights will be offered out of Hamilton International Airport, and all routes will involve an approximately one-hour stopover at Reykjavik's Keflavik International Airport.

Manitoba reveals new tourism slogan to pitch to post-pandemic visitors

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's tourism industry has a new slogan and marketing campaign to try to lure more visitors.

Travel Manitoba, a provincial Crown corporation, has changed its marketing tag line from "Canada's heart beats," adopted eight years ago, to "Canada's heart is calling."

There are also new advertisements and new lettering that features a polar bear inside the "A" in Manitoba.

Travel Manitoba president Colin Ferguson says the new brand is aimed at a more emotional connection to travel.

Transport committee wants to hear from passengers affected by holiday travel chaos

OTTAWA - A parliamentary committee voted Monday to launch a study into the causes behind Canada's chaotic holiday travel season and to hear not only from industry giants, but also from some of the passengers who saw their plans upended.

Members of the federal transport committee met to discuss the scope of the study, which all agreed was necessary given the widespread disruptions that plagued thousands of passengers who travelled by air and train last month and into January.

In the lead up to Christmas Day, a winter storm swept across parts of Canada, complicating travel plans for both providers and passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

But those sitting around the virtual committee table focused less on the weather than on the service passengers received.

Mazatlán mayor reassures Canadians and other visitors following cartel violence

MAZATLÁN, Mexico - The mayor of a Mexican city caught up in a wave of drug cartel violence last week wasted little time reassuring Canadians and other foreign visitors that his city is safe for travellers.

Edgar Gonzalez, in a video posted online by the City of Mazatlán, strolled through his city's historic centre on Friday, shaking hands and posing for pictures with tourists.

"These same tourists who are practically established in Mazatlán are very confident, very calm, we see them in the historic centre relaxed, calm, no problems, not worried, they are in the restaurants, in the streets, in the galleries, on the boardwalk, everywhere completely relaxed, calm," Gonzalez said in a news release that was translated and posted to Facebook by a regional travel organization.

A number of Canadian tourists in the northwestern area of Mexico had to remain in their hotels for several days after the arrest of a major alleged drug cartel leader led to violence in the region.

Travellers crave getaways but now weigh risks of lost baggage, poor weather, illness

A winter getaway to Mexico ended in frustration and exhaustion for Shannon Dryer after weather-related disruptions delayed her family's return to British Columbia, sent their luggage astray and highlighted the many ways a vacation can go awry.

The ordeal propelled her to swear off future bookings with WestJet and kiboshed any more Christmas-time trips.

“I don't think it was worth it," she said from Port Coquitlam, B.C. "It was just a lot of stress."

The delay in coming home forced extra costs in pet boarding, airport parking and respite care for her father on top of the added food and accommodation costs in Mexico, she said.

Some Canadians set to return from Mexico’s Mazatlan area as airports reopen

Some Canadian tourists in Mexico's Sinaloa state finally began their delayed journey home on Saturday after a wave of violence erupted in the region, shuttering airports and prompting an advisory to shelter in place.

Two airports in the northwestern area of Mexico have reopened, with international flights scheduled on Saturday from Mazatlan to cities in Western Canada including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

Travellers checking out of beachfront hotels in the area described a chaotic scene of packed elevators and busy lobbies as guests awaited airport shuttles and flights home.

Some Canadian tourists in the area were barricaded in their hotels for several days after the arrest of a major alleged drug cartel leader led to violence in the region.

Closer to the HEART

Technically, Morden and Winkler rest 12 kilometres apart on Provincial Highway 3. But as the two communities that make up Manitoba’s Twin Cities grow, that distance shrinks to barely a five-minute drive. And that means visitors get two for the price of one when it comes to family fun, fabulous food and superb shopping in southwestern Manitoba.

Travel amping up but ride will be bumpy

Every year at this time I try to give readers an overview of what the next 12 months in travel might look like with an overview of what I predict, as well as what many experts suggest are coming trends and changes in the travel industry.

Get out there and enjoy the GREAT OUTDOORS

As we head into 2023, it’s hard not to think about all the changes that have gone on in the outdoor industry recently.

‘Have your wits about you’: Travel advice for Canadians visiting Mexico

The federal government says 1.8 million Canadians travelled to Mexico in 2022. Some of the more popular tourist spots include Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Mazatlan, Playa Del Carman and Puerto Vallarta.

Travel agents say direct flights from many locations and all-inclusive resorts are a major draw.

But, like other travel, it's not without risks.

Some Canadian tourists in Mexico were barricaded in their hotel this week amid violence after the arrest of a major alleged drug cartel leader. The violence was particularly fierce in Culiacan, Mazatlan, Los Mochis and Guasave.