Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday that Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat have agreed to suspend service to some sun destinations until April 30, and will be making arrangements with their customers who are in these regions now to organize flights home.
„The government asked, and we agreed,” said Ed Sims, president and CEO of WestJet. „While we know that air travel is responsible for less than 2 per cent of cases since the start of the crisis, and even less today, we recognize the Government of Canada’s ask is a precautionary measure.”
International passenger flights, including from the U.S., will land only at Vancouver, Toronto-area, Calgary and Montreal airports starting next week. The prime minister said as soon as possible, the government will be introducing mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada, on top of the pre-boarding test already required. The Ontario government was expected on Friday afternoon to announce its own testing initiative at Pearson Airport.
When asked why other vacation destinations, including Florida, aren’t part of the suspensions, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the government looked at the most popular locations.
Travellers will have to wait up to three days at an approved hotel for their test results, at their own expense, which Trudeau said is expected to be more than $2,000. Those with a negative test will then be able to finish their 14-day quarantine at home, with increased surveillance. Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam added that returnees will also be swabbed on Day 10.
Canada has had a ban on non-essential travel into the country by anyone who isn’t a citizen or permanent resident since March. Canada follows Britain and Australia, among others, in announcing some form of hotel quarantine for air travellers.
