The Canadian government and Canada’s major airlines have agreed to suspend all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries. The suspension went into effect January 31 and will continue to April 30. Also, as of Feb. 3, all commercial international flights can only land at four airports: Montreal-Trudeau, Toronto Pearson, Calgary International, and Vancouver International. This includes flights arriving from the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, which had previously been exempted from such rules.
Canada’s enhanced restrictions are in response to new, likely more contagious variants of the novel coronavirus, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced that in addition to the pre-boarding test Canada already requires, the government will be introducing mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada.
“Travellers will then have to wait for up to three days at an approved hotel for their test results, at their own expense, which is expected to be more than $2,000,” Trudeau said. “Those with negative test results will then be able to quarantine at home under significantly increased surveillance and enforcement.”
The prime minister said those with positive tests will be immediately required to quarantine in designated government facilities to make sure they’re not carrying variants of particular concern.
Transport Canada clarified on Saturday that travellers entering Canada would be required to “reserve a room in a Government of Canada-approved hotel for three nights at their own cost and take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival at their own cost,” and added that more details would be available in the coming days.
Canada already requires those entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days, which will continue.
A 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement for travellers seeking entry at the land border will also be introduced, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers
Immediately after the announcement by the Prime Minister on Friday, ACTA said it was “sounding the alarm” for travel agents and travel agencies and called for urgent government aid.
“The news… is absolutely devastating for all sectors within the travel industry – from airlines to hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, travel agents, independent contractors and all other businesses that rely on tourism,” said ACTA president Wendy Paradis.
“Without enhanced and urgent aid, and protection against commission recall there will be imminent business closures and bankruptcies among travel agencies and independent contractors – as we have been warning the federal government.”
ACTA’s demand for aid was echoed elsewhere. Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, said the federal government must provide “immediate” financial support to the industry to prevent its “total collapse.”
“You can’t have one without the other. Further travel restrictions without providing financial support for airline workers is a risk to the very future of Canada’s airline industry,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Similarly, the National Airlines Council of Canada, which represents the country’s major carriers, reiterated its call for government aid and said the organization looked forward to working with Ottawa on a recovery strategy for the industry.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair warned bluntly that if people choose to go on vacation during the pandemic, then, “They should bear the full cost and responsibility of all the measures that are necessary to keep Canadians safe.”
Trudeau said Canada’s main airlines – Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat – have agreed to suspend service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico until April 30, effective yesterday.
“They will be making arrangements with their customers who are currently on a trip in these regions to organize their return flights,” Trudeau said.
Air Canada immediately announced that it will begin repatriating customers this week and that all affected future customers will be offered full refunds “given the services are being suspended with no alternative available.” Air Transat said it would do the same. Sunwing is providing all affected customers with a refund in their original form of payment. (i.e. if a customer paid by credit card, they get the refund back on their card. If they were redeeming a voucher, they get a replacement voucher). At press time, WestJet had not provided details on potential refunds.
“With the challenges we currently face with COVID-19, both here at home and abroad, we all agree that now is just not the time to be flying.” Trudeau said. “By putting in place these tough measures now, we can look forward to a better time when we can all plan those vacations.”
However, with some of the measures not coming into effect for several weeks, Ontario’s government said on Friday that it would begin testing all international travellers at Pearson at noon today (February 01) and fines of $750 would be imposed on anyone who refuses to take the test.
“It’s excellent. It’s a shame it’s this late,” said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network of the new travel measures, adding, “This is something they could have done ages ago. This is definitely a step in the right direction.”
ACTA’s Paradis said that the association understands the importance of protecting the health of Canadians, but says the impact of the new measures of suspended flights, new testing on arrival on top of the pre-boarding testing, mandatory hotel quarantines, and other initiatives will further delay any meaningful recovery for the entire industry.
“We require immediate and focused discussions with the government to ensure not only the safety of Canadians and travellers – but of our travel businesses,” she said. “Travel agencies and travel agents need aid now. Our industry has been effectively shut down.”
Lamenting “another tough day in the industry,” Nancy Wilson of the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors said the new measures were not entirely unexpected, having been “teased for weeks,” but said that ACITA was “hoping for a detailed plan.”
Instead, she said, the association “finds itself disappointed with the lack of information, as well as the thought processes that went into this decision making.”
Wilson observed, “(Prime Minister Trudeau) opened his statement, recognizing that only two percent of cases has been brought about by travel, yet has again directed all his measures to protect Canadians from this virus, by restricting travel. With only a cancellation of flights to (sun) destinations, we feel this has not addressed the seriousness of the issues with community spread or provided additional support to the provinces to get this spread under control, where the majority of the issues are, not to mention that the majority of critical issues with this virus are not originating in Caribbean destinations.”
She added, however, that ACITA is “hopeful” that this latest situation “will bring the urgency of sector aid to the forefront,” and was “encouraged to hear, for the first time, from Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, travel agents mentioned, regarding sector aid.
“We will look at this,” she said, “as a positive step forward, and as an opportunity to further dialogue on the urgent need for commission protection with any bailout packages.”
Flemming Friisdahl president and founder of The Travel Agent Next Door also noted that based on the science and what the government is saying, if less than two percent (of the virus) is passed through travel, the focus should be more on hot spots, and people getting together without, or with few, precautions.
However, said Friisdahl, “I believe that many people feel they have to get away based on mental health, and the hotels have been so careful and so good at making sure their hotels stay safe.”
And, should they travel, the $2,000 cost when passengers arrive back home seems excessive, says Friisdahl.
“The pilot program in Alberta was doing amazingly well, balancing safety and people’s ability to travel. Why not do that instead?”
Like others he asks, “When will the government start supporting the travel community financially?”
On a more positive note he adds, “The silver lining is the government says we will still have everyone vaccinated by September. Let’s hope they make this happen, so we can start getting back to normal.”
Check the Canadian Government site for updates HERE.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html#f