TORONTO — Sunwing’s winter sun sales for 2021 – 2022 are already surpassing 2019 sales trends, Sunwing’s Chief Marketing Officer, Samantha Taylor, tells Travelweek.
We reached out to Taylor after this morning’s news that Sunwing is gearing up for a return to sun destinations, targeting take-off for late July and into August.
Sunwing plans to resume partial service to select sun destinations from Toronto and Montreal, starting July 30, 2021.
The news came one day after the federal government announced eased travel requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents, effective July 5. These include the lifting of quarantine and the elimination of the day 8 COVID-19 test.
Sunwing’s initial lineup of destinations includes Cancun, Punta Cana, Varadero and Montego Bay.
Samantha Taylor
“These destinations are well-loved favourites for Sunwing customers. Customer demand has helped us choose these initial destinations, and we look forward to adding more flights and destinations in the near future to meet growing demand,” says Taylor.
Sunwing’s initial flight schedule from Toronto Pearson International Airport will be as follows:
- Between Toronto and Cancun, on Fridays and Sundays starting July 30, 2021 and on Saturdays starting August 21, 2021
- Between Toronto and Punta Cana, on Saturdays starting July 31, 2021 and on Fridays starting Aug. 20, 2021
- Between Toronto and Varadero, on Mondays starting Aug. 2, 2021
- Between Toronto and Montego Bay, on Sundays starting Aug. 22, 2021
The initial flight schedule from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport will be as follows:
- Between Montreal and Cancun, on Fridays and Sundays starting July 30, 2021
- Between Montreal and Punta Cana, on Saturdays starting July 31, 2021
- Between Montreal and Varadero, on Mondays starting Aug. 2, 2021
Additional flights and routes may be added in the coming weeks to reflect consumer demand. Travellers can also look forward to more gateways and destinations for the fall/winter season, with departures onboard Sunwing Airlines from various Canadian cities beginning in October 2021.
We asked Taylor if travel inquiries coming into Sunwing’s call centre, from agents and consumers, have been ramping up in the past few weeks and especially days, in the wake of the federal government’s June 18 and June 21 announcements about eased travel restrictions.
“Demand has been increasing and surpassing our expectations. As Canadians feel more confident with vaccinations becoming more widely available, and with border restrictions easing up, we have also seen a sharp increase in our inquiries,” says Taylor.
She adds: “The back half of 2021 and the winter of 2022 will be an exciting time as customers look to take a much needed break from the cold Canadian winter months. We look forward to bringing our customers back to paradise under our wing.”
With the company’s Safe with Sunwing commitment, clients can travel with peace of mind knowing that the highest Canadian standards are in place throughout their entire vacation experience. Safe with Sunwing was developed under the advisement of global healthcare leader Medcan.
In addition, customers who book between now and July 5, 2021 will receive complimentary COVID-19 Emergency Medical Insurance for departures until Oct. 31, 2021.
Asked what agents should be telling their clients about how quickly space is selling for the months ahead, Taylor said: “Next winter is already surpassing 2019 sales trends. We anticipate that popular destinations and customer-loved resorts will sell out quickly. Agents should not hesitate to let their customers know that space and options will be limited the longer they wait. It’s better to be booked than risk missing out next winter.”
