Omicron variant could cause havoc with international flights

International flights are returning to Saskatchewan, but now there’s a small chance plans could change.

With the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, several travellers are now very concerned about booking a flight leading into the holiday season. Those who have already made plans are also starting to wonder if it’s worth it or not to travel.

Julie Skinner, the director of leisure sales and operations for Western Canada for Vision Travel, said the company hasn’t made any concrete decisions yet when it comes to cancelling flights.

Skinner says the company is waiting patiently for more information to come out before coming to any conclusions.

“Typically, it’s busier this time of the year (with) people getting organized with Christmas travel. Having said that, we’ve all been faced with the facts just recently in the last few days of the new variant,” Skinner said.

“That’s maybe dampening the enthusiasm a little bit until we can actually get the cold hard facts of whether this is going to greatly affect us or not.”

The federal government may have added another hurdle Tuesday, announcing that all air travellers arriving in Canada — except those from the United States — will have to be tested at the airport at which they land.

Despite the new variant causing a great deal of concern, there is a strong surge for international flights set up over the next few months.

While many citizens have been waiting patiently to go on holidays, Skinner says there could be a few issues to deal with in terms of international schedule changes.

“Now that (the major airlines) have reopened, we are facing massive schedule changes and it’s wreaking havoc through the travel industry community and the airline industry,” she said.

For certain markets in the country, there should be enough resources in order to make sure all flights go through as planned.

Skinner says she just hopes all of the resources get utilized properly.

“It is good news for smaller markets in Saskatchewan and all across Western Canada,” she said. “I’m hoping that we can have enough people that can fill their loads and keep those international flights going.”

It has been an ongoing learning experience for everyone in the industry, as the pandemic continues to change many things in the way business is done.

Skinner said she hasn’t seen anything like this happen within her 30-plus-year career.

“It has been a long haul for us. Anyone who has been working in the tourism or travel industry (or) hospitality industry (knows) we’ve been the hardest hit,” Skinner said.

“(We’re) just really happy that we’re hopefully moving forward and the next variant doesn’t take over.”