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6Air Canada launches self-administered testing kits
Travel advisory lifts but solvency concerns for many agents remain
TORONTO —The federal government has dropped its travel advisory against all non-essential outside of Canada, for fully vaccinated Canadians. In addition, federal certification for international travel for fully vaccinated Canadians will piggyback on provincial vaccine passports.
With the elimination of the blanket travel advisory, in place since March 2020, the system now reverts back to the familiar country-specific list of advisories.
Travel industry execs and organizations have been calling for this move for months, which opens up more availability for travel insurance coverage, and will get many more Canadians travelling again. ACTA President Wendy Paradis says ACTA is happy to see the blanket travel advisory go, and wants the cruise advisory - still in place, and at a Level 4 - updated too.
“The lifting of the global travel advisory is a significant win for travellers, travel agents and the entire Canadian travel industry. However, it is disappointing that the blanket advisory against all cruise ship travel remains for fully-vaccinated travellers. Cruise line operators have proven that safe cruise travel is feasible. We continue to call on the federal government to lift the cruise advisory for fully-vaccinated travellers, recognizing the incredible efforts cruise lines have taken to follow strict government-mandated health and safety protocols,” says Paradis.
GOVT. AID PROGRAMS The lifting of the travel advisory is great news for the industry. Challenges remain with retail travel’s delayed revenue stream, and the wrap-up of CRB. New financial aid programs from the federal government include a Tourism & Hospitality Support program and a Hardest Hit Recovery Program, with wage subsidies and rent assistance. Both run Oct. 24, 2021 - May 7, 2022.
There’s also a new ‘Lockdown Benefit’ of $300 per week, for workers “subject to a lockdown”, and designed for those who aren’t eligible for EI. However the Lockdown Benefit is designed as a one-off program for unexpected lockdown situations, not as ongoing support.
“From our understanding, Trudeau and Freeland’s announcement of extended financial assistance provides no help to Independent Travel Advisors, who are now left with zero government aid, now that the CRB is ended,” says ACITA co-founder Judith Coates, adding that more will become clear when the final details are released. And with the exception of tour operators who have transitioned to an upfront commission model, commissions aren’t typically paid until clients travel.
That’s another concern, as Coates notes.
“The announcement of the lifting of the blanket travel advisory is welcome and long awaited news, however ACITA continues to remind its members that we need to continue to drive the point home to MPs that we do not see revenue until 5 to 11 months past the lifting of any travel advisories,” she said. “Yes, our clients will now have more confidence in booking travel, but because of our delayed revenue stream, we will not be paid for those bookings until travel takes place and we know that most trips are booked six to 12 months in advance. Many independent travel advisors are barely hanging on by a thread.”
Coates adds that she’s hoping that on Nov. 1, 2021, when the ban on cruise ships sailing in Canadian waters is lifted, that the Level 4 cruise advisory will also be lowered: “Cruise ships are now one of the safest places to be!”
Air Canada launches self-administered COVID-19 test kits
MONTREAL — Air Canada has announced what it calls the industry’s most comprehensive travel testing options in partnership with Switch Health, including portable self-administered COVID-19 molecular and antigen test kits for passengers. Air Canada passengers can travel with the kit and test themselves while abroad prior to their flight to Canada to meet federal government testing requirements without the need to visit a foreign COVID-19 testing clinic.
Other options also include a portable self-administered Antigen Test Kit, which is accepted by many countries such as the U.S.
The tests are conducted under the remote supervision of a Telehealth professional from Switch Health and include an electronic report suitable for travel.
The tests don’t require any lab processing and the results are received in under 45 minutes with an official electronic report suitable for travel. Air Canada is Switch Health’s launch partner for these new tests, with limited quantities initially available for Aeroplan members.
The news comes on the heels of the lifting of Canada’s travel advisory and the federal government’s vaccine passport certification for international travel. The federal government currently requires travellers arriving in and returning to Canada to present a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of their flight.
While last week’s lifting of the travel advisory was cheered by the industry, there has been concern that Canada’s PCR test requirement for all returning passengers could cause travel’s recovery to lag.
The testing kit options, including the Switch Health COVID-19 RT-LAMP Kit, make travelling abroad easier and more predictable until such time as the testing requirements evolve, says Air Canada. Switch Health is a Canadian-based healthcare company. “Air Canada is a leader in adopting and implementing science-based safety measures to simplify our customers’ journey,” says Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products Marketing & eCommerce at Air Canada. “Together with Switch Health, we are pleased to offer our customers the most comprehensive range of travel testing options that will make travelling abroad easier and more predictable. Switch Health also seamlessly integrates into Air Canada’s digital tool allowing customers to securely submit their COVID-19 test results and records of vaccination, further simplifying the travel experience,” he added. Aeroplan members will have exclusive access to preferred pricing on all Switch Health testing products. Aeroplan preferred pricing for the portable Antigen test kit start at $79 plus applicable taxes (one kit includes two tests), and the portable RT-LAMP test kit start at $149 plus applicable taxes. Members also earn 1,000 Aeroplan points on RT-PCR tests and 500 Aeroplan points on RT-LAMP Test Kits and Antigen Tests. Aeroplan is free to join. Customers can visit aircanada.com/ switchhealth for all the details or order a test kit at switchhealth.ca/aeroplan or redeem at aircanada.com/estore.
TORONTO — As travel begins to reopen in earnest, Sunwing is reminding agents that it offers zero change fees plus free COVID-19 medical coverage on most all-inclusive packages. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for agents and customers to navigate the new world of travel with more flexibility, insurance options and relevant content than ever before, says Sunwing’s Chief Marketing Officer, Samantha Taylor. Plus, agents and customers will find relevant COVID-19 content on destination, hotel and Travel Requirements landing pages at Sunwing.ca. The information at the landing pages takes the guesswork out of the vacation planning process, providing current information on travel regulations, including destination entry requirements, insurance options, PCR testing information, a pre-departure checklist and tips for returning to Canada. “We want to make the travel process stress-free from start to finish, and help Canadians navigate travel requirements and get back to vacationing under our wing,” says Taylor. “Agents and customers will have everything they need right at their fingertips on Sunwing.ca, including key content directly on destination and hotel description pages, from entry regulations to on-site PCR testing and COVID-19 coverage. Plus, more valuable information and resources are available on our Travel Requirements page. This is all part of our ongoing commitment to provide Sunwing customers with peace of mind when travelling so they can focus on what matters most: enjoying their vacation.” Complimentary COVID-19 medical coverage is offered on most all-inclusive vacation packages that include flights onboard Sunwing Airlines, and is applicable on packages booked by Nov. 11, 2021 for departures Nov. 1, 2021 - April 30, 2022. The insurance is underwritten by Manulife and provides coverage in the unlikely event that customers contract COVID-19 and need to seek emergency medical coverage while on vacation. Customers can also opt to upgrade to the Manulife Pandemic Travel Plan from $4 per day for full trip interruption benefits, including quarantine costs, new return flights if required and more. Agents and customers can also easily identify which hotels and resorts offer on-site PCR testing with a new On-Site PCR Test icon and detailed testing tab on applicable hotel pages, in addition to a list of off-site testing locations on the Travel Requirements page. Select destinations have also been designated as Easy Entry Destinations, chosen for their simple entry regulations and limited restrictions such as no inbound testing requirements. Sunwing is also offering savings of up to 45% off popular vacation packages with its Yes You Can sale.
Sunwing, Yes You Can
Air Canada Vacations to offer flights to The Exumas this winter
THE EXUMAS — Air Canada Vacations will be operating direct flights from Toronto to George Town in The Exumas starting Dec. 19, 2021. The Airbus A220-300 flights will run once a week on Sundays until April 17, 2022, departing at 9:30 a.m. from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and arriving in The Bahamas by 1 p.m. “As the demand for leisure travel continues to grow, we’re ready to advance the recovery of our industry by meeting the needs of travellers from all walks of life,” said Nino Montagnese, Vice President, Air Canada Vacations. “We want to entice Canadians to dream of relaxation, adventure and sunnier days ahead. Exuma provides the perfect breathtaking backdrop for those dreams.” Effective Nov. 8, 2021, Air Canada will also be offering daily flights from Toronto to Nassau. Beginning in December, weekend flights will also be available from Montreal to Nassau. All persons travelling to The Bahamas are required to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa at travel.gov. bs. A Travel Health Visa is no longer required for inter-island travel within The Bahamas. All arriving passengers, vaccinated and unvaccinated, as part of the Bahamas Travel Health Visa application, are required to opt in to COVID-19 health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay in The Bahamas. The cost of insurance is included in the health visa application fee.
Fully vaccinated travellers are required to upload negative Rapid Antigen test results in addition to valid proof of vaccination (Provincial government-issued vaccine record card).
Unvaccinated Canadians travelling to The Bahamas would have to obtain and present an rt-PCR test and would also be required to take a Rapid Antigen test on the 5th day of their stay. Now in effect, all children between the ages 2-11 wishing to enter The Bahamas are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen or PCR) taken no more than five days prior to the date of arrival in The Bahamas. All children under the age of two are exempt from any testing requirements.
