Airline ticket prices in Canada have soared this summer, with a substantial increase of 13% for domestic destinations and a staggering 28% for international destinations compared to the same period in 2022, according to a recent report from travel website Kayak.
The report argues that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a travel frenzy among Canadians who are eager to make up for lost time and explore the world once again.
Leon Mulder, the manager of Kayak Canada, highlighted the remarkable surge in travel enthusiasm. “Canadians want to make up for lost time,” he said. The sentiment is shared by many as the desire to embark on long-awaited vacations and reunite with loved ones drives the demand for travel experiences.
According to Kayak’s comprehensive analysis, the average cost of a round-trip flight to an international destination this summer stands at $1,395. The figure is a substantial increase when compared to the previous year.
Tourists planning to visit Canada this summer are also expected to spend $397 on round-trip tickets.
Rising airline tickets
In recent months, Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), ignited widespread outrage among members of the Moroccan community in the United States with its shockingly expensive ticket prices for summer travel to the North African country.
As discontent grew, social media users and community groups called for a boycott of the airline, expressing their frustration over the soaring costs.
The Moroccan Americans in New York Facebook page, which serves as a platform for thousands of Moroccan citizens residing in New York, voiced their strong dissatisfaction with RAM’s price hike.
Warning of potential consequences, the page declared, “If Royal Air Maroc does not review their ticket prices in the coming weeks, this company will witness the biggest boycott campaign from Moroccans living in North America in history.”
The page further emphasized that the Moroccan community in the United States was prepared for various forms of protest, including demonstrations outside RAM’s headquarters in New York.
Highlighting the patriotism of Moroccan expatriates, the Facebook page underscored their commitment to supporting the national economy rather than European countries deemed “hostile” to Morocco. However, they expressed their refusal to accept what they described as the provocations of RAM, calling for fair and reasonable ticket prices.
The exorbitant costs of RAM’s tickets have not only angered Moroccan Americans but also raised concerns about the negative impact on Morocco’s tourism industry.
A Moroccan living in the United States, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed his disappointment by stressing that “the prices that Royal Air Maroc is practicing this year go against any logic and will do a lot of harm to the country’s tourism industry.”
He further warned that such high prices could drive away tens of thousands of potential tourists, redirecting them to countries with more affordable airline services.