Canada’s largest airlines push Ottawa for clear plan for vaccinated travellers

OTTAWA — Canada’s largest airlines are renewing their call for a clear plan from Ottawa on resuming international travel after the European Union moved to reopen for vaccinated tourists.

EU ambassadors today agreed to a plan that would allow fully vaccinated travellers to visit the 27-nation bloc, as well as relax restrictions for all travels from some other countries that are deemed COVID-19-safe.

Mike McNaney of the National Airlines Council of Canada lauded the EU for its “science-based approach” and says the federal government should outline a similar plan.

He says Canada should say when it will remove or adjust travel restrictions for those who are vaccinated against COVID-19, as a number of other countries have done recently. 

The council represents large national and international passenger air carriers including Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said earlier this month that G7 countries have agreed that resuming international travel after the pandemic will require a co-ordinated approach to COVID-19 testing and recognizing whether passengers have been vaccinated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2021.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press