WestJet Airlines said Monday it has canceled 20% of its scheduled March flights, extending February schedule reductions amid COVID-19 restrictions and uncertainty that continue to drain demand.
Posted at 1:16 p.m.
Updated at 1:51 p.m.
The airline’s acting chief executive, Harry Taylor, stressed that travel advisories and drug testing requirements were meant to be temporary, but after two years the industry crisis had reached a fever pitch.
“It is disappointing that Canada is treading water in its approach and continuing to make travel inaccessible and punitive for Canadians and incoming tourists,” he said in a statement Monday.
WestJet is requesting periodic testing on arrival only, rather than mandatory molecular testing before takeoff and after landing, for fully vaccinated international passengers.
The Calgary company is also calling for an end to quarantines for travelers awaiting results when they return from overseas.
Canada remains the only G7 country to require molecular testing before departure and upon arrival, Taylor noted, asking the federal government to set a timetable for the resumption of travel and tourism.
Since the beginning of November, WestJet and its low-cost subsidiary Swoop have canceled 11,285 flights that were due to take place in the month of March, or 48% of their planned trips. Air Canada has canceled 16,617, or 41%, since mid-October, according to flight data company Cirium.
Further reductions could be announced by airlines, in the context of travelers waiting longer before buying their tickets, as close as possible to their departure date, to ensure that the pandemic measures do not spoil their plans. . If bookings eventually materialize, the flight schedule could remain stable, but if not, even fewer planes will leave the tarmac than currently expected.
“A lot more people these days are even making their leisure travel decisions at the last minute, because the world is a very fluid place right now and people are having a hard time planning months in advance with restrictions and changing rules,” observed David Huttner, an aviation expert based in London.
“Maybe I would prefer to drive alone in my own car — travel habits have also changed, especially for shorter flights. »