Canadian Airlines Welcome Mandatory Vaccinations for Passengers

Canadian Airlines Welcome Mandatory Vaccinations for Passengers

August 13, 2021 ctn_admin

Canada’s two largest airlines say they welcome today’s federal government news that passengers will soon need to be fully vaccinated to fly.

“Although Air Canada awaits further details about today’s announcement on mandatory vaccinations, it is a welcome step forward in the evolving measures to protect the health and safety of airline employees, customers and all Canadians,” the airline said in a press release. “Air Canada is committed to work with its unions and the Government of Canada to implement this new policy in an effective manner with the aim of increasing safety and streamlining the application of science-based health and safety measures in a manner consistent with the Government’s COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel report of May 5, 2021.

“In particular, for travellers, the panel recommended: that there should be no pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers; acknowledging that testing at both departure and arrival is excessive for these passengers; and that effective self-administered rapid antigen tests now available can safely replace slower and more expensive PCR testing for pre-departure tests.

“Air Canada also remains committed to the continued development and application of new safety measures and processes that are effective and convenient for customers as they become available,” officials said. “Such measures are vital to the safe restart of the air transport industry which, apart from enabling Canadians to travel freely, is also an essential driver of economic activity in Canada.”

WestJet made a similar announcement.

“The WestJet Group will adhere to the requirement for domestic travellers to be fully-vaccinated or tested prior to departure,” officials said. “The airline group is advocating that rapid-antigen testing is an acceptable, accessible and affordable alternative for unvaccinated travellers.

“We continue to be a strong partner in Canada’s vaccination rollout and are working diligently to implement the government’s policy on mandatory vaccines for airline employees,” said Mark Porter, WestJet Executive Vice-President, People and Culture. “Vaccinations are the most effective way to ensure the safety of our guests and employees, while curbing the spread of COVID-19.”

“We understand our people will have questions and will be discussing with our employee and labour groups in real-time,” said Porter. “We are seeking additional detail from the federal government on the requirement and are committed to working together to ensure the successful implementation of the policy by late October.”

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra today said Canada will soon require – likely by October – that all airline, cruise ship and train passengers be fully vaccinated. Those who can’t get a vaccine likely will face increased testing.