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6Air Canada ramps up transborder service
Air Canada ramps up transborder service with up to 220 daily flights
MONTREAL — Air Canada’s updated summer transborder schedule includes 55 routes and 34 destinations in the U.S., with up to 220 daily flights between the U.S. and Canada.
Air Canada says the new schedule coincides with last week’s announcement from the federal government that effective Aug. 9, fully vaccinated American travellers can enter Canada for non-essential travel. So far the U.S. border will remain closed to Canadians until at least Aug. 21.
Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada, notes that Air Canada’s schedule enables convenient onward travel through its Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal hubs to and from the airline’s global destinations.
“We are planning to restore services to all 57 U.S. destinations previously served as conditions allow. We sincerely look forward to welcoming our customers onboard,” he said. AIR CANADA APP & REFUND POLICY
Meanwhile the Air Canada App, with updates announced last month, allows customers flying from the U.S. to Canada and between Canada and select European destinations to easily and securely scan and upload COVID-19 test results to validate compliance with government travel requirements prior to arriving at the airport.
In early August 2021 Air Canada's onboard services will resume on transborder flights longer than two hours, with new Economy Class Bistro selections being gradually introduced, including products by Canadian brands and
partners such as Nomz vegan energy balls, celebrated Montreal Chef Jérôme Ferrer-inspired meals and more.
Air Canada is also reminding agents and customers about its new refund policy. The policy offers options of refunds, an Air Canada Travel Voucher or equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours, and is applicable to all tickets purchased.
“We need a restart that is affordable for all”: IATA warns of high cost of testing
GENEVA — Testing for COVID-19 needs to be more accessible, says IATA, adding that governments should consider permitting the use of antigen tests over more expensive PCR tests.
According to IATA’s most recent traveller survey, 86% of respondents are willing to get tested. However, 70% also believe that the cost of testing is a significant barrier to travel while 78% believe governments should bear the cost of mandatory testing.
“IATA supports COVID-19 testing as a pathway to reopen borders to international travel. But our support is not unconditional,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “In addition to being reliable, testing needs to be easily accessible, affordable and appropriate to the risk level. Too many governments, however, are falling short on some or all of these.”
Walsh added that the cost of testing varies widely between jurisdictions, with little relation to the actual cost of conducting the test.
“The U.K. is the poster child for governments failing to adequately manage testing. At best it is expensive, at worst extortionate. And in either case it is a scandal that the government is charging VAT,” he said.
The new generation of rapid tests costs less than US$10 per test. Provided a confirmatory rRT-PCR test is administered for positive test results, guidance from the WHO sees Ag-RDT antigen testing as an acceptable alternative to PCR. And where testing is a mandatory requirement, the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHRs) state that neither passengers no carriers should bear the cost of testing.
“Our latest survey confirms that the high cost of testing will bear heavily on the shape of the travel recovery. It makes little sense for governments to take steps to reopen borders if those steps make the cost of travel prohibitive to most people. We need a restart that is affordable for all,” said Walsh.
IATA also recommends governments adopt WHO guidance to consider exempting vaccinated travellers from testing requirements.
