Calling the pandemic a game-changer, Tejeda, Senior Travel Industry Marketing Manager, Arizona Office of Tourism says recovery has been slow going, with Canadian visitation peaking at just over 300,000 in 2023, far below the record-breaking numbers in 2019, with close to one million visitors. This has largely been due to a drop in airlift, however, 2024 is looking promising with multiple options for Canadians.

“Air Canada has added lots of frequencies for the summer out of Ontario and Montreal into Arizona, and on the west side also from Vancouver and Calgary,” says Nesteanu, Managing Director Canada for GMS.

“We’ve been working hand in hand with airline partners to make sure that we have a stronger presence in Canada.”

Daily flights are available with Air Canada between Toronto-Phoenix, and twice-daily service between Vancouver-Phoenix. Flair offers 4x/weekly service between Edmonton-Phoenix and Vancouver-Phoenix, while WestJet offers three daily flights between Calgary-Phoenix and two daily flights between Edmonton and Vancouver to Phoenix.

Nesteanu also hints at a possible additional airline flying out of Canada into Phoenix later this year.

“We’re having conversations and nothing’s been made official yet, but we’re hoping to have something to announce in the second part of 2024,” she says. “We’re doing everything on our side to negotiate and we’re really hoping that it will have a huge impact and help increase numbers back to what they were previous to the pandemic.”

Source: Travelweek