More families with toddlers and
pre-school-age children are visiting Punta Cana this year, while older kids are
hitting historic European cities with mom and dad
MONTREAL, June 27,
2024 /CNW/ - When it comes to travelling with
children, Canadians know that their destination of choice will make
the journey all the more enjoyable. This summer, for parents of
toddlers, it means parking at a resort town in the Caribbean, while families with teens prefer
experiencing the historic sight-seeing options of Europe.
Family travel: Punta Cana
for the little ones, Rome for the
teens
According to travel data from Air Transat, voted World's Best
Leisure Airline for the sixth time at the 2024 Skytrax World
Airline Awards, Punta Cana in the
Dominican Republic, and
Rome in Italy are the most popular booking choices for
family vacations during the peak summer season (June to August) in
2024.
For those with kids under 5, Punta
Cana is the summer destination experiencing the biggest
increase in bookings. But for adults travelling with older
grade-schoolers or teenagers, their destination of choice is
increasingly Rome.
"It is clear that in the early years of parenthood, adults want
to travel where they know they can relax, recoup their energy, and
set up shop next to a pool or on a beach," said Xavier
Szwengler, Vice President, Marketing & Loyalty at Transat.
"But once the kids grow out of strollers, more parents are
prioritizing educational destinations that can broaden horizons,
particularly Rome, where family
vacation itineraries are never short on activities and discoveries.
No matter where their adventures take them, families can trust Air
Transat to provide exceptional care and service, ensuring they
travel with peace of mind."
Families are very important to Air Transat. The airline offers a
range of family privileges to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable
journey. These include free seat selection for families so they can
sit together, as well as priority check-in and boarding.
Additionally, Air Transat provides a Kids Club with various
benefits for children aged 2 to 11, such as on-board surprises and
priority baggage handling. With these dedicated services, Air
Transat makes travelling with children easier and more enjoyable,
allowing families to focus on creating unforgettable memories
together.
Tailored travel experience for every generation
Other Air Transat data revealed that Rome, Paris,
London and Lisbon are the most popular destinations among
all adult age groups this summer, though travellers 55+
heading to Portugal tend to choose
Porto over Lisbon. Porto, the coastal city in the northwest of
Portugal, is also surprisingly the
most popular destination for travellers with a pet, as many of the
activities in the region are pet friendly.
In addition to popular destinations, the latest data from Air
Transat shared some interesting statistics around how different
generations travel. Millennials are the most likely to do short
weekend vacations, with Cancun and
Punta Cana topping the list, while
Gen X and Boomers prefer vacations longer than two weeks in
European destinations such as Paris, Rome,
Athens, Porto and Lisbon.
Millennials are also the ones who travel with the most baggage,
while Boomers and Gen X prefer to book their seats in advance for
peace of mind. These travellers can benefit from Option Plus for
more privileges and services in economy class, such as one checked
bag included, seat selection and priority services at the
airport.
Solo trips: Paris and
London lead the way
For travellers looking to embark on a solo trip this summer,
Paris, London, Rome
and Lisbon are topping the list.
In fact, Paris has seen a 48 per
cent increase in bookings this year, while London has seen a 39 per cent increase. For
those travelling as a pair, they are favouring similar
destinations, although Rome has
seen a 56 per cent increase in bookings and Paris a 50 per cent
one.
One thing is for sure, there is a strong appetite for travel
compared to pre-pandemic years. Air Transat has a robust flight
program from Montreal,
Toronto and Quebec City this summer, offering more than
280 weekly non-stop flights to more than 40 destinations, including
newly added flights to Lima
(Peru) and Marrakech (Morocco) offered year-round.
About Air Transat
Founded in Montreal 36 years ago,
Air Transat is a leading travel brand voted 2024 World's Best
Leisure Airline by passengers at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
Its program offers access to international destinations, mainly in
Europe, the Caribbean, the East and West coasts of the
U.S, South America and
North Africa. Air Transat is
recognized for its excellent customer service. By renewing its
fleet with the most energy-efficient aircraft in their category,
Air Transat is committed to a more sustainable travel industry.
Based in Montreal with major hubs
in YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson
Airport (YYZ), it has near 5,000 employees with a common purpose to
bring people closer together. Air Transat is a business unit of
Transat A.T. Inc. (TSX: TRZ). www.airtransat.com
Methodology
The data presented was sourced internally
by Air Transat through proprietary systems which are designed to
capture accurate and timely information related to travel bookings.
The data collection period spans from November 2018 to May
2024, with a focus on bookings for June – August 2024.
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Media contact :
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Marie-Christine
Pouliot
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Cheffe, relations
publiques et contenu marketing
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marie-christine.pouliot@transat.com
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SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.