Lori Ranson Canada takes baby steps in lifting travel restrictions.
Lori Ranson
Canadian airlines continue to ask the government to develop a comprehensive reopening plan. Credit: Joepriesaviation.net
The decision by the Canadian government to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated residents was welcomed by the country’s airlines. But those operators continue to push for a more comprehensive reopening plan, even as Canada’s message remains the same—caution will underlie any future decisions regarding travel policies.
After maintaining strict travel restrictions since March of last year, Canada has taken a small step. Beginning July 5, vaccinated citizens and permanent residents will be exempt from a mandatory 14-day quarantine in which travelers must spend three days in a hotel at their expense while waiting for COVID-19 test results.
Under the changes, vaccinated travelers still have to take a test 72 hr. before departure and upon arrival. Those travelers are also required to have a paper or digital copy of their vaccine documentation and provide COVID-19-related information electronically through the ArriveCAN portal prior to entering Canada.
Any movement away from quarantines that have been in place for a year and a half is welcome, but Canada’s airlines are repeating their pleas. “Canada desperately needs a clear and comprehensive restart plan for international travel and an end to one-off, piecemeal announcements concerning quarantine and border policy changes,” says the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), which represents Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation and WestJet.
Canada’s cautious approach to loosening restrictions occurs as other countries are opening their borders to international travelers. France, for example, has added Canada and the U.S. to its “green” list of countries from which vaccinated travelers who have proof of vaccination do not need to quarantine or test before or upon arrival.
“Unlike many other countries, including our G-7 partners, Canada has yet to provide a clear restart plan outlining when and how major travel and border restrictions will be removed, in particular for fully vaccinated travelers from foreign countries,” the NACC says.
The result of Canada’s cautious approach is a slower resurgence of demand. “It is looking more optimistic, but I don’t think we will see the same type of traffic rebound in Canada this summer as we have seen in the U.S.,” National Bank of Canada analyst Cameron Doerksen says.
He explains that an acceleration of international traffic could occur this fall: “Most Canadians will have received their second dose by then.” According to Our World Data, roughly 22% of Canada’s population of nearly 38 million was fully vaccinated as of June 24.
The Canadian government is making no apologies for the “cautious adjustments” in its travel policies. Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair says: “The government of Canada continues to strongly advise Canadians to avoid nonessential travel.” He explains that although trends are improving—COVID-19 cases are decreasing and vaccination efforts are going well—“we can’t let our guard down.”
Canada has also opted to extend its ban on all but essential border crossings until July 21. Those restrictions have been in place since March of last year and have essentially wiped out demand for transborder air travel.
Additionally, some travel restrictions within Canada between its provinces “have clearly dampened domestic air travel, especially to Atlantic Canada,” Doerksen says.
But he noted some restrictions are easing, pointing to the border opening up between the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, which were previously closed to nonessential auto traffic. “For a more fulsome domestic travel recovery, we will need to see domestic restrictions eased as well,” Doerksen says.
The NACC previously applauded plans by Alberta for a phased reopening. The group says nearly all public health measures there could be lifted in late June, when 70% of Albertans ages 12 and older are expected to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the NACC, British Colombia also has developed a restart plan that establishes time frames and metrics for regional and national travel.
Canada’s largest airline, Air Canada, has improved its outlook as some provinces reopen. This summer, the airline is adding three new domestic routes, offering flights to more than 50 Canadian airports and restarting service on select regional routes.
The airline explains that with the acceleration of Canada’s vaccine rollout and the reopening plans announced by various provincial governments, “this summer is looking brighter.”
Air Canada also previously said it has a strong base of bookings for travel to sun destinations in the fourth quarter of this year and into the first quarter of 2021.
Any glimmer of hope among Canada’s airlines is a step in the right direction. But, the reality is Canada’s recovery could continue to lag until the government takes further steps to lift restrictions.
