NEWS
“You can’t have one without the other”: Financial support needed now, says Unifor TORONTO — “Further travel restrictions without providing financial support for airline workers is a risk to the very future of Canada’s airline industry,” says Jerry Dias, National President of Unifor. As Canada’s largest union in the private sector, Unifor is calling on the federal government to provide immediate financial support to the industry to prevent its total collapse. News broke on Jan. 29 that the government will be implementing a new wave of travel restrictions and measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. These include new mandatory PCR testing at Canada’s four largest airports as well as mandatory hotel quarantines that come at an expense exceeding $2,000 per person. “Though these measures are necessary to help flatten the curve, they also highlight the continued withering away of airline jobs,” said Dias. “More than 300,000 workers are frustrated, wondering why their federal government refuses to present a plan to help them weather this pandemic. Unlike other countries, Canada’s continued refusal to help this industry is making a bad situation worse.” Last week, Dias presented Unifor’s national aviation plan to the federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. He stressed the urgent need to develop a national recovery plan for the aviation industry that includes financial support for workers and addresses the growing issue of precarious work in the aviation industry.
Sunwing extends validity of future travel credits to Sept. 30, 2026 TORONTO — Sunwing is extending the validity of its future travel credits (FTCs) to Sept. 30, 2026. The move comes days after Sunwing, along with Canada’s other major carriers, announced the cancellation of its winter sun flights. “There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on Canadians from coast to coast, and the entire world, and its timeline continues to remain uncertain,” says Sunwing in an official statement. “As a result, Sunwing is pleased to announce it is extending the validity of future travel credits until September 30, 2026.”
“It will ensure Canadians can fully enjoy their future getaway at a time that is convenient for them.” All Sunwing customers who were impacted by cancelled travel due to the pandemic and who made non-refundable bookings will now be able to use their credits for travel up to September 30, 2026. The company says the extension is intended to provide Sunwing customers with greater flexibility so they can plan their future vacation to the tropics with peace of mind. The vast majority of Sunwing’s future travel credits were set to expire by June
20, 2022, however “travel restrictions and the global pandemic have gone on far longer than anyone could have ever expected,” says the company. Sunwing says the voucher extension accounts for the uncertain timeline and travel restrictions currently in place. “Moreover, it will ensure Canadians, including those in smaller regional markets, can fully enjoy their future getaway at a time that is convenient for them.” The travel credit extension is specific to those customers who made non-refundable bookings. Any Sunwing customers with cancelled travel as a result of the pandemic, and who made bookings that were refundable or partially refundable, have received refunds in the form of original payment. The expiration date on customers’ existing future travel credits will automatically be updated, so there is no action required on the part of travel agents or customers. Travel credits can be redeemed when booking an upcoming flight or vacation package. Speaking with Travelweek, Melanie Filipp, Sunwing’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, said that the airline is standing by agents and values their business. “We know this is a challenging time and we empathize with our travel agent partners who are juggling financial strain, all while working tirelessly to guide customers through the ongoing travel restrictions and help them manage their upcoming or cancelled vacation bookings,” she says. “We are confident that, by working together, we will come out even stronger on the other side of this. In the meantime, we’re always here to lend a helping hand to our travel agents and address questions or concerns they may have.” Announced on Jan. 29, in a move that took effect Jan. 31, Sunwing, along with Air Canada, WestJet and Transat, cancelled all flights to the Caribbean and Mexico through April 30 at the request of the federal government as part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and all its new variants. All four airlines are offering the option of refunds to passengers impacted by the cancellations. Sunwing has secured access to $375 million of liquidity with a new loan announced by the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corp. (CEEFC) and made under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF). February 4, 2021 | TRAVELWEEK | 9
