The Biden administration in Washington today (Jan. 4) extended the enforcement of its vaccine mandate for all foreign air travelers entering the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy was set to expire Jan. 8, according to CBS News, “but will now be enforced until at least April 10, based on a new emergency amendment issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).” The U.S. just recently announced that passengers on flights coming from The People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macao would have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Canada announced a similar Read more
Asia
A prominent Liberal in the Justin Trudeau government says he wants to hear from Sunwing and VIA Rail about the travel chaos that many Canadians endured over the holidays. MP Peter Schiefke, the Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges in Quebec and chair of the federal government’s transportation and infrastructure committee, tweeted on Tuesday that both companies need to be held accountable for a disastrous holiday season. Sunwing cancelled flights between Canada and Mexico a couple days before Christmas, leaving hundreds of Canadians stranded during the holidays. Passengers on a VIA Rail train headed from Ottawa to Toronto were forced to Read more
The Canadian government today announced a temporary negative COVID-19 test requirement for travellers arriving from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao. Air travellers two years of age and older will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test before departing for Canada beginning January 5, the Trudeau government said. The U.S. made a similar announcement a few days ago. Worried about a surge in cases in China and an alleged lack of accurate reporting of COVID-19 infection data, other countries also have placed restrictions on travellers from China. “As of 12:01 a.m. EST on January 5, all Read more
Battered Southwest Airlines says it expects to operate at something approaching full strength. Following one of the worst performances in U.S. aviation history, with more than 13,000 cancelled flights since December 22, the airline says it expects to operate with “minimal disruptions” on the day before New Year’s Eve. Southwest cancelled 2,362 flights on Thursday (57% of all scheduled departures), according to FlightAware.Com. But the website shows only 41 cancellations (1% of flights) as of 11 a.m. Eastern Time today (Dec. 30, 2022). Thousands of passengers are still trying to find their way home, or to their final destination, following Read more
The U.S. on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 testing requirements for all travelers from China. But Canada has yet to follow suit. Starting January 5, all travelers to the U.S. from China, Macau and Hong Kong will need to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before boarding their flight. The testing applies to anyone two years and older, the CBC reports. Other countries made the move before the U.S., but Canada has yet to take similar action. A spokesperson for Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, said Canada is monitoring COVID-19 case numbers Read more
