Travel News Today: Reopening Hotspots, New Entry Rules & Unmissable Flight Deals

Air Transat pilots vote to strike today, grounding holiday flights and triggering nationwide travel advisories H2: What the Air Transat strike means for travellers • Start date & duration: The walk-out can legally begin at 00:01 a.m. EST on 10 December 2025. Air Transat warns that a “gradual and orderly shutdown” of its network will unfold over the next 72 hours, with repatriation flights prioritized for Canadians abroad. • Scope: More than 260 weekly departures to 25 countries are at risk, including high-demand sun routes to Cancún, Punta Cana and Fort Lauderdale. • Immediate cancellations: The carrier has already scrubbed select departures from Montréal (YUL), Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR); the live list is updated on Air Transat’s strike portal. H2: Your options if your Air Transat flight is cancelled 1. Rebooking window: Expect an automatic re-assignment within 48 hours on the next available Transat or partner flight. 2. Full refunds: Decline the alternative and the airline must reimburse the unused portion of your ticket under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations. 3. Package holidays: Vacationers on Transat packages receive hotel costs, meal vouchers and ground transport during unexpected extensions; keep all receipts. 4. DIY reroute: Travellers who purchase a replacement ticket on another carrier can claim the fare difference—submit proof through Transat’s online refund form. H2: Tips for navigating peak-season disruption • Check flight status every six hours and sign up for SMS alerts. • Avoid calling customer service for date changes until you have verified your flight status online—phone lines are being triaged for travellers abroad. • Use credit-card trip-interruption insurance to offset extra hotel nights or last-minute ticket purchases. • Consider alternative gateways: WestJet and Air Canada are adding limited rescue capacity from Ottawa and Québec City. H2: Other travel headlines today • Winter storm system snarls flights at Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop airports; WestJet issues flexible change policy for 9-10 December departures. • Global Affairs Canada updates advisories for Mexico’s Guerrero State (exercise increased caution) and Ukraine (avoid all travel). • U.S. lifts Cuba flight frequency cap, opening new route opportunities from Montréal and Calgary starting 15 December. H2: Bottom line With a pilot walk-out, a winter storm and evolving foreign advisories converging, “travel news today” is dominated by real-time changes. Lock in backup plans, watch your inbox for cancellation emails and bookmark airline advisory pages to keep holiday trips on track.