WestJet says the travel warning issued by the Canadian government on Wednesday is not based on science and could create holiday season chaos.
“The WestJet Group today is expressing its strong opposition to the travel advisory issued by the Government of Canada,” the Calgary-based company said in a statement. “The targeted advice outlined today is not based on science and data and significantly undermines aviation’s proven safety record in response to COVID-19.
“These measures are a setback in Canada’s progress and its successful transition from relying on blanket advisories and policies.”
The Justin Trudeau government on Wednesday announced a four-week advisory for Canadians to avoid non-essential travel. Top government officials also suggested new testing rules could be coming.
“Air travel is the most tested and protected consumer activity in Canada,” said Harry Taylor, WestJet President and CEO. “Every person travelling internationally is tested on average twice throughout their travel journey.”
“As the only fully-vaccinated air travel sector in the world, WestJet is calling on the government to publicly share the travel related COVID-19 data that has been used to re-impose the advisory and advice targeted towards fully-vaccinated Canadians and the travel and tourism industry.”
International travel standards and policies should be harmonized, yet Canada’s travel measures remain firmly out of step with border policies enacted across the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, WestJet argues.
“The advisory announced today, contradicts WHO’s guidance that states blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of COVID-19 and adversely affect lives and livelihoods. The Government of Canada should continue to focus on vaccinations and testing, as the pathway for safe and fully-vaccinated international air travel must be preserved.”
“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have safely flown more than seven million guests and air travel has been commended for its commitment to safety. Fully-vaccinated Canadians should not be singled-out for choosing to take part in a safe activity,” continued Taylor. “Travel bans, restrictions and blanket advisories are devastating to the continued economic recovery of our country and place tens of thousands of recently recalled Canadian travel and tourism jobs at risk. We are very concerned today’s announcement will create unnecessary disruption and chaos in advance of the holiday travel season.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, The WestJet Group has responded to COVID-19 to ensure the safety of all. The airline has implemented its own measures in response to the pandemic including a zero-tolerance mask policy, enhancing health and safety measures, suspending sun flights and implementing the airline’s mandatory vaccination policy for employees and air travellers.
In a report on the CTV News website, NDP MP and health critic Don Davies said the government should consider tightening border restrictions for non-Canadians seeking to enter the country.
“The Liberals are telling Canadians do not travel, say to the United States for non-essential reasons but Americans can pour in across our border for non-essential reasons. That makes no sense. I don’t understand how that’s going to keep us safe at all,” he said.
Air Transport Association of Canada CEO John McKenna told Canadian Press that thousands of customers have already cancelled their bookings, and that the decline in international trips would also start a slowdown in regional and domestic travel, Global News reports.
David Green, managing director for Canada at Toronto-based G Adventures, said caution needs to be the key word when it comes to public health. But he noted that “recent headlines indicate that boosters are effective against the Omicron variant and the symptoms are mild. As such, today’s announcement that the federal government is reinstating the non-essential travel advisory has come as a shock to our industry, which was starting to recover after a successful Black Friday and Cyber Sale period.
“January traditionally sets (travel) agents up for the year ahead with strong sales, but they now face more disruption and turmoil,” Green said. “Not only is this a setback to our industry as a whole, but it’s a major frustration for travel agents who will now be inundated with calls from panicked travellers looking to cancel or rebook their holidays, when they should be enjoying a well-earned break before heading into their peak selling period in January.
“I urge agents not to give up hope over the next four weeks when we hope this decision will be reversed. G Adventures continues to promote our Book With Confidence Policy which enables travellers to cancel and rebook up to 14 days before departure. We need to all keep fighting for bookings to continue changing peoples’ lives through travel.”
“If there is a plan to introduce additional testing, Canadians and travellers should be advised of this, without delay,” said Daniel-Robert Gooch, President of the Canadian Airports Council. “Back when the increased arrivals tests were announced several weeks ago, the situation today was predictable.
“Our travellers deserve the benefit of predictability for their own planning purposes.”
“Travel bans and border restrictions are ineffective tools to halt Omicron as the variant has already taken hold in Canada,” members of the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable said in a statement. “Introducing additional and overly restrictive travel measures at this time is not rooted in science, does little to stop the spread of the Omicron variant in Canada and creates an enormous amount of harm to an industry already on its knees. Closing borders and preventing travel is simply not the solution.”
