Global getaways: Maritimers look to European travel destinations

While travel to the United States has dipped, European trips are poised to soar for Maritimers.

There’s never been more options for Maritimers looking to fly direct to Europe.

“We’re seeing 38 per cent more seat capacity this summer compared to our 2018 European seat capacity,” said Leah Batstone, the communications manager at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

“It would help to encourage people, that you don’t have to do that stop and it’s one way,” said traveller Johanna Burns.

Eleven cities in total, including London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Edinburgh, are part of the growing list of destinations with the added attraction of direct, non-stop flights from Halifax, has many making sure their passports are up to date.

“I’ve been to Barcelona before, it’s a beautiful city and that time I had to fly Halifax to Toronto and then Toronto across so this is a lot more convenient,” said Peter Reimer. “There’s nothing more infuriating from being from the East Coast and flying over your home and knowing you’re still six hours away from getting home. So, it’s a really convenient option to come back.”

These routes also open the Maritimes to Europeans looking for an easy trip across the ocean.

Alexandra Sterner is returning home to Sweden after attending a wedding in Wolfville, N.B.

“It makes it a lot easier and more accessible so more of those departures and flights would be great for me,” she said.

“Certainly, these flights, we want to see people in them both ways and so of course we know there are Europeans that enjoy coming to explore Canada and Atlantic Canada and we’re hoping to see more of that this summer,” added Batstone.

The bump in European flights seems to come at the expense of trips to the United States.

A Statistics Canada report shows return bookings to the states are down almost 20 per cent over this time last year.

“I believe that there’s some problems there that would be best for Canadians not to go I would think,” said Rick Stoezel, who was catching a flight back to Winnipeg.

The 11 destinations are it for now, but airport staff are always working to add more locations to their travel map. WestJet is set to launch its direct service to Paris on Friday.

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