Canada’s Air Transat suspends ops amid tough restrictions

Following enhanced measures announced by the Canadian government aimed at further curbing the spread of COVID-19, Air Transat has suspended its regular operations from January 29 to April 30, 2021. From midnight on February 3, 2021, international flights arriving and departing in Canada will be funnelled through four gateways only: Montréal Trudeau, Toronto Pearson, Calgary, and Vancouver Int’l. This includes flights arriving from the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, which were previously exempted from restrictions. In addition, the Canadian government said passengers arriving in Canada would have to quarantine at their own cost for three nights in a Canadian government-approved hotel and take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival at their own cost. Screening Officers will monitor travellers at their quarantine locations in 35 cities across the country, starting in Montréal and Toronto. Violating any quarantine instructions when entering Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to six months in prison and/or CAD750,000 (USD586,600) in fines. Given these new measures and their impact on travel demand, Air Transat said in a statement that it would only operate repatriation flights from Paris CDG, Portugal (Porto and Lisbon), Cuba, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic between January 31 and February 13. This will be followed by a suspension of all its operations from February 14 to April 30, 2021. This includes all its departures from Montréal Trudeau to Paris; Cuba (Holguin and Varadero); Haiti (Port au Prince); Jamaica; Mexico (Cancún and Puerto Vallarta); and the Dominican Republic (Puerto Plata and Punta Cana). From Toronto Pearson, Air Transat would temporarily suspend its flights to Cuba (Holguin and Varadero); Jamaica (Montego Bay); Mexico (Cancún); and the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana). Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau) has also suspended its services to Mexico and the Caribbean for three months from January 31 until April 30, 2021, to contain the spread of COVID-19, particularly during the Spring Break period. “System-wide the incremental impact on Air Canada’s cash burn is not material given the already reduced levels of passenger traffic resulting from COVID-19 and travel restrictions,” President and Chief Executive Officer, Calin Rovinescu said in a statement. A number of one-way repatriation flights from affected destinations would be operated after January 31. Passengers impacted by suspended services would be given full refunds given there were no alternatives available. Private business and charter flights from all countries will also be required to land at the four airports. Flights from Saint Pierre and Miquelon (the self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in the north-western Atlantic) and cargo-only flights will remain exempt. Aeroméxico (AM, México City Int’l) responded by also temporarily suspending all its routes to Canada from the second week in February until April 30, 2021. The airline in a statement said its flights to Toronto would be suspended on February 8 and those to Montreal and Vancouver from February 10. In the meantime, Aeromexico would carry out final repatriation flights.