Further streamlining is needed to benefit travellers,
economy
MONTREAL, Sept. 26,
2022 /CNW/ - Air Canada today welcomed the Government
of Canada's decision to lift
remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including requirements for wearing
masks on aircraft, testing and quarantine, and the compulsory use
of ArriveCan beginning October 1,
2022.
"Air Canada welcomes the
removal of these restrictions, acknowledging that air travel
is safe and that the measures were not justified by science. . We
believe it will greatly facilitate travel, help to continue
stabilizing the country's air transport sector and support
Canada's economy. Customers and
crew will still have the option to wear masks and we also encourage
customers to monitor their own health to be sure they feel well and
fit to travel," said Craig Landry,
Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Air
Canada.
"While today's announcement is a positive step, we urge the
government not to lose momentum. Lessons learned during the
pandemic should now be applied to streamlining the air transport
system in Canada and to enact
further reforms. This includes improving processes, such as
security and customs at airports, developing new trusted traveller
programs, deploying new technologies and, more fundamentally,
re-examining the user-pay model that finances air transportation in
Canada, whose weaknesses and
interdependencies were exposed by COVID."
The relaxed measures announced today are expected to advance Air
Canada's ongoing recovery from COVID. Working with our partners and
stakeholders in the industry, we are returning to pre-pandemic
service levels. This includes significant improvements in
on-time performance as compared to earlier in the summer,
meaningful reductions in delays and cancellations, a daily flight
completion factor now over 98%, as well as baggage handling
performance that has fully restabilized at pre-pandemic
levels.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag
carrier and a founding member of Star
Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation
network. Air Canada provides
scheduled passenger service directly to 50 airports in Canada, 47 in the
United States and 69 internationally. It holds a Four-Star
ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's
Aeroplan program is Canada's
premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem
points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45
airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and
car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo,
provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of
destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger
flights and cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300
freighters. Air Canada has
committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations
by 2050.
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