Canadian Airlines Suspend International Flights And Reduce Domestic Travel Due To Coronavirus
Airlines in Canada continue to cope with ongoing travel restrictions and bans as governments around the globe try to minimize the impact of the coronavirus. Here’s what Canada’s major airlines are doing about international and domestic flights in response to continuing coronavirus travel bans.
Recently, the airline announced that it would extend the suspension of international flights, as well as the reduction of domestic flights, until May 31, 2020. The airline has reduced its international network from 101 airports down to only six, flying only to the cities of London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Air Canada has also reduced its trans-border network from 53 airports to 13. The only U.S. cities now being serviced by the carrier are New York (LGA and EWR), Boston, Washington, D.C. (IAD and DCA), Chicago, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
Air Canada has also decreased its domestic network from 62 airports down to 40. The airline will continue to operate repatriation flights as needed. As a reminder, for cancelled flights the airline is offering a future flight credit for travel that must be used within 24 months. For more information, go here and here.
West Jet recently announced that the suspension of its operations for all transborder (United States, including Hawaii) and international (Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America) flights will continue until at least May 4, 2020.
The carrier has also reduced its domestic flights significantly until May 4. The website states that “While we’re reducing our domestic service by about 50 per cent, we are committed to keeping critical economic lifelines open for the 38 communities we serve across Canada. The situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, but as of March 23, we will continue to offer flights to all of the cities we currently serve in Canada with decreased frequency.” Like Air Canada, the airline is offering flight credits valid for 24 months for cancelled flights. Read more here and here.
