As summer approaches, vacationers, adventurers, and other travellers will have more options to explore Canada and international locations.
The Halifax Stanfield International Airport recently announced the introduction of more non-stop routes. With a host of new and returning travel options, the airport is eager to welcome back passengers looking to visit loved ones or renew travel plans.
“It’s really good to see people in the terminal building again,” says Marie Manning, Vice President of Business Development and Chief Commercial Officer for the Halifax International Airport Authority. “We are so excited to welcome travellers back.”
LOOKING OUT FOR TRAVELLERS
With an emphasis on enhanced health and safety precautions both in the airport and on airlines, Halifax Stanfield has taken steps to ensure that air travel remains safe. Workers and travellers must be fully vaccinated, and everyone is still required to wear a mask, as mandated by the government of Canada.
“The cleaning processes and regulations in place should give passengers peace of mind, knowing that the airport is one of the safest places to be,” says Manning. “Now is a great time to get out there to have some fun and enjoy a new place, new surroundings, and new destinations.”
The federal government recently removed its pre-arrival testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers, helping to make the travel experience more seamless and efficient.
Manning recommends looking into the current regulations for your specific destination with your airline, travel agent, or relevant public health agency prior to departure to ensure a smooth trip. She also suggests checking the airport’s website for the latest information on parking options, airport concessions, and other general travel tips to be well-prepared for your upcoming journey.
NEW INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS
There are various destinations available for non-stop travel directly from Halifax Stanfield, and new international routes and airlines are opening more possibilities for travellers.
“We're fortunate to have all of the European destinations that were previously served from Halifax prior to the pandemic on offer again this summer,” says Manning.
For international flights, WestJet will be resuming its four non-stop European services to Dublin, London, Glasgow, and Paris. Air Canada will be operating a direct flight to London Heathrow, and Condor will be providing direct service again to Frankfurt, Germany.
Eurowings Discover is a new leisure airline that will be providing non-stop, direct service to Frankfurt. Eurowings passengers will have access to the Lufthansa Airline network in Frankfurt and the Air Canada network in North America, providing great opportunities for connecting flights. Passengers can also use Aeroplan points, earning and redeeming points for Eurowings flights.
These European routes all offer travellers with the ability to make connections to destinations beyond Europe, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
“There are so many options for passengers travelling internationally,” says Manning. “We’re looking forward to helping passengers check destinations off their bucket list and get to where they want to go.”
EXPLORING CANADA AND BEYOND
Now is also a great time to travel domestically, with many direct routes available to destinations across the country.
There are three ultra-low-cost carriers operating out of the Halifax Stanfield, including Swoop, Flair, and Lynx Air. This summer, Flair is scheduled to provide direct service to five destinations and is adding a new destination to the route map with its new service to Windsor. Swoop is scheduled to serve four destinations including a new service to Edmonton. Lynx Air, a new airline launching this summer, will provide direct service to Hamilton and Toronto-Pearson.
The ultra-low-cost model of these airlines allows passengers to customize their travel, paying only for what they need. This option for travel has grown at Halifax Stanfield, making up a larger proportion of the overall airline options compared to pre-pandemic.
The non-stop domestic travel options from Halifax do not end there. Air Canada will be offering a new route on their network from Halifax to Vancouver, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Porter Airlines recently added more direct flights to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
“We're delighted to have many of the destinations back this year that we had pre-pandemic, although in some cases with less frequency,” says Manning. “There are a lot of choices for passengers to fly direct to their final destination.”
American Airlines also will be resuming service and introducing a couple of new routes to the United States this summer. For the first time, the airline is offering non-stop flights from Halifax to Washington, D.C. and to Boston. Along with the launch of these two new routes, American Airlines will be resuming its daily service between Halifax and Philadelphia, where travellers can connect to their entire U.S. network.
The U.S. pre-clearance offered at Halifax Stanfield provides an advantage to passengers, helping to facilitate a smooth journey. Passengers clear through customs in Halifax, so when they arrive in the U.S., they can exit the airport quickly or continue onto their next destination without having to deal with the stress and hassle of going through customs at a congested airport.
“With all of the different options available, it’s an ideal time to get out and reconnect with loved ones and start travelling and exploring again,” says Manning. “I think we all want and look forward to that.”
When you’re ready to travel, the Halifax Stanfield provides a safe and efficient starting point. With all the options available to fly this summer, the pressing question will be, “Where will you go first?”
To explore all the non-stop flights available from Halifax and book your next travel, please visit halifaxstanfield.ca/non-stop.
