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[runaway]

2 hours ago, Turbofan said:

Alternatives exist for safe travel but the Canadian government and the other 10 Provinces and Territory need to be willing.  They are not.  At least not at the moment.  The untold truth about the 14 day quarantine is that it is also a tool to discourage travel. It is therefore more than just a safety measure.  It is also a deliberate deterrent.

If government is bent on discouraging travel as a Covid strategy then they will hold like glue to quarantine.  It won’t matter what alternatives exist, or how good they are.

The last comment about quarantine from Dr. Tam was that quarantine is an integral part of Canada’s go forward Covid strategy.  As far as I can tell I haven’t seen any retreat from that position.
 

Based on her words so far as guidance.  I read the latest news from her as 14 day quarantine will likely be in place until 2022.  Travel will continue to be deliberately discouraged likely for another 1 1/2 to 2 years.  

So from that perspective, how long can the travel industry last?  Can anyone make it past next spring?  If it will be summer 2022 before we start recovery in the travel industry, what strategies, if any exist?  If they exist how sever do those strategies  need to be?
 

 

 

If that's the case Air Canada will likely park the fleet in the Spring and go into hibernation until the Feds figure out what they're doing!

[rudder]

40 minutes ago, runaway said:

If that's the case Air Canada will likely park the fleet in the Spring and go into hibernation until the Feds figure out what they're doing!

If that’s the case Air Canada will potentially file for CCAA in the spring.

Last time it was April Fool’s Day - April 01, 2003. Don’t be surprised if it happens again. You cannot simply park a fleet that you do not own. The owned older aircraft are parked at zero expense. But many of the remaining idle fleet are either leased or subject to EETC financing.

AC will not wait until it is down to its last $2.4B in cash. Once it sees the inevitable cash cliff on the horizon, it will file. The only thing that will change the outcome is a significant increase in revenue manifest in the first and second quarter of 2021 that is sustained throughout the year.

[Turbofan]

3 hours ago, rudder said:

If that’s the case Air Canada will potentially file for CCAA in the spring.

Last time it was April Fool’s Day - April 01, 2003. Don’t be surprised if it happens again. You cannot simply park a fleet that you do not own. The owned older aircraft are parked at zero expense. But many of the remaining idle fleet are either leased or subject to EETC financing.

AC will not wait until it is down to its last $2.4B in cash. Once it sees the inevitable cash cliff on the horizon, it will file. The only thing that will change the outcome is a significant increase in revenue manifest in the first and second quarter of 2021 that is sustained throughout the year.

Is your 2.4B number DIP and exit financing?  Or just DIP.

[boestar]

Does any one have ACs scheduled flight and load factor information?  They are flying and loads are not horrible on what is operating from what I can see.  all things considered.

 

[mrlupin]

I think management gets those figures on a daily basis. I doubt they can share it...

[rudder]

9 hours ago, Turbofan said:

Is your 2.4B number DIP and exit financing?  Or just DIP.

$2.4B is AC’s self imposed operating cash floor per the Q2 call.

If it becomes necessary, I presume that AC would prefer to go in without the need for a DIP lender hence the likelihood that it would file with greater than $2.4B cash on hand. May also mean no need for an equity sponsor (exit financing). Unsecured creditors become the new owners.

The purpose of a CCAA filing would be to sustain the airline in a much smaller form. The price would be wiping out current shareholders. It will be a ‘last resort’ initiative only. A filing would require board approval and usually results in the ultimate resignation of all board members.

It is also within the realm of possibilities that AC could work with creditors to undertake a voluntary restructuring requiring majority creditor support and use the court to implement the result on non-supporting creditors.

None of this would manifest prior to 2021 but AC will most certainly be contingency planning as it cannot control the rate of revenue recovery.

[Guest]

Not a smart move, .....

Air Canada promoting ‘leisure’ travel to U.S. despite advisories warning against non-essential trips

17 August 2020Canadian Aviation News

News from Global News – link to story and videos

By Amanda Connolly Global News, Posted August 17, 2020

WATCH: Air Canada promotes leisure flights despite travel advisories

Link to videos

Air Canada is promoting the availability of both “leisure and business” flights to the United States even as that country continues to record explosive growth of coronavirus cases and as federal travel advisories continue to warn against any non-essential travel out of the country.

A recording on the airline’s customer booking telephone line plays the following message:

“Are you eager to reunite with friends and relatives in the U.S? Did you know that Canadians are permitted to travel by air to or from the U.S. for leisure or business? Review our step-by-step guide available on aircanada.com/travelguidelines to see what to expect while travelling.”

Canada has barred all incoming travel from the U.S. by land except in cases where doing so is deemed essential, and does not bar Canadians or eligible American citizens from travelling by air between the two countries.

The U.S., on the other hand, has a prohibition on non-essential entry at land borders but does not prohibit any incoming arrivals from Canada by air for any reason.

The conflicting rules have been described as a loophole and infectious disease experts are warning that since many Canadians likely are not aware the loophole exists, promoting it may have the effect of encouraging travel that puts Canadians at risk of bringing the virus home with them.

“We’re in the time of a pandemic and that sort of undermines all the public health measures in place,” said Dr. Anna Banerji, an infectious disease and global health specialist at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Banerji said the rate of daily deaths due to the pandemic in the U.S. is out of control.

“So to have Canadians go down there for leisure purposes in the middle of a pandemic, it seems to be very unethical and I think that Air Canada really needs to look at what they’re doing.”Ontario truckers concerned about travelling to United States

Air Canada defended its telephone line message in a statement to Global News and said even though government restrictions have caused a “virtual industry shutdown,” the airline has kept up basic operations and that activities like family reunification fall under the classification of leisure travel.

“This has made it possible to ship necessary cargo (including PPE, vital medical goods, essential machinery for business and perishable foods), repatriate Canadians abroad and facilitate required business travel and family reunifications (which are classed as leisure travel),” wrote Peter Fitzpatrick, spokesperson for the airline, in an email.

The Canadian government does not define non-essential travel and instead states that “it is up to the individual to decide what constitutes ‘non-essential travel,’ based on family or business requirements, knowledge of a country or region, and other factors.”

“Recognizing the importance of these services, government regulations for transborder travel specifically make allowances for people to fly between Canada and the U.S,” said Fitzpatrick.

He continued: “As a responsible corporation, Air Canada has put in place industry-leading biosafety measures to protect customers and employees travelling with us.”

The Canadian government did change some rules regarding family reunification in June: those changes exempted inbound foreign nationals who are “immediate family members” of Canadians from the ban on non-essential incoming travel.

It makes no mention of reuniting with friends.Coronavirus: Trudeau says ‘complex’ situation in the U.S. means no firm timetable on border reopening

Canadians returning from abroad must quarantine for 14 days.

They are required to provide an address and contact information upon re-entering the country and authorities can follow up by phone or in person to ensure they are respecting the quarantine.

Those who break their mandatory quarantine can face maximum penalties up to $750,000 and/or jail months in jail.

Dr. Craig Jenne, an associate professor in the University of Calgary’s department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases, said while it’s true airlines are taking many safety precautions to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, much of the risk comes from activities on either end of the flight.

“Just as anything else, especially with COVID, there is no such thing as perfectly safe,” he said.

Just this week, public health officials in Waterloo warned that travel-related cases made up 18 per cent of new infections reported in the region last month, with most of those in individuals who had travelled to the United States.

The United States is the global epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak with cases raging across the country and more than five million cases recorded to date.

More than 150,000 Americans have died so far.

The travel advice right now from the federal government warns Canadians against leaving the country for any non-essential reasons, even where it is possible.

“Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice,” the travel advisory states.

“While some countries are partially opening their borders, we continue to advise against non-essential travel outside of Canada.”

The U.S. regulations restricting land border crossings define non-essential travel as “travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.”

Essential travel refers to “work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.”

However, those definitions do not apply in the case of entry by air, rail or sea travel as the U.S. places no restrictions on that under the land border regulations.Coronavirus: WHO says travel bans cannot be indefinite amid the pandemic

Dr. Zain Chagla, an associate professor in McMaster University’s department of medicine and an infectious disease specialist, said he understands the airlines are hurting.

“But at this time, as much as we’re dealing with COVID in Canada, the biggest risk for us in Canada for COVID is the rest of the world coming back to Canada,” he said.

Chagla noted the issue will likely come up in other forums as both airlines and other organizations make overtures to lure Canadians, who are viewed as relatively low-risk travelers due to the containment of the virus domestically so far.

“It’s not just airlines, it’s other organizations,” he said.“There probably should be some social responsibility here in the sense that the border is closed for non-essential travel … but similarly, the messaging should also be coming not necessarily from the private corporations, but from public health and other agencies really to discourage [non-essential] travel.”

Global News asked Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair why the government has not banned non-essential air travel to the U.S. outright and whether the government believes promoting the existence of an air travel loophole is responsible.

Blair’s office referred questions to Global Affairs Canada, which said in a statement that Canadians are “strongly advised” to follow their recommendation to avoid non-essential travel, but that the responsibility is up to travellers.

“While our Government continues to recommend that Canadians avoid non-essential international travel, we recognize that safe and secure air travel is critical for Canadians to connect with loved ones and for those who rely on it to support their businesses,” said a spokesperson for Garneau.

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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[Guest]

15 hours ago, rudder said:

If that’s the case Air Canada will potentially file for CCAA in the spring.

Last time it was April Fool’s Day - April 01, 2003. Don’t be surprised if it happens again. You cannot simply park a fleet that you do not own. The owned older aircraft are parked at zero expense. But many of the remaining idle fleet are either leased or subject to EETC financing.

AC will not wait until it is down to its last $2.4B in cash. Once it sees the inevitable cash cliff on the horizon, it will file. The only thing that will change the outcome is a significant increase in revenue manifest in the first and second quarter of 2021 that is sustained throughout the year.

 

Air Canada Releases Sustainability Report Highlighting Progress and Continued Commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Français

---

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Air Canada 

Aug 17, 2020, 08:00 ET

 

 

• Positive impact on issues that matter most
• Three fundamental pillars: Business, People, Planet

MONTREAL, Aug. 17, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today issued its 2019 corporate sustainability report Citizens of the World, outlining the airline's progress in key areas of sustainability, including some 2020 updates. In addition to committing to the Global Reporting Initiative, recognized as a leader in sustainability reporting standards, Air Canada also supports and promotes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Air Canada's 2019 corporate sustainability report Citizens of the World. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

"Despite the extreme challenges we are facing this year, sustainability remains a top priority for Air Canada. We believe that growth and prosperity should not come at the expense of sustainability and we are committed to operating our business responsibly and with integrity for the benefit of future generations. The 2019 Citizens of the World report is evidence of our strong global organization which we have worked so hard to build over the last 10 years. While our collective achievements of 2019 may feel distant under the current circumstances, they should be highlighted nonetheless," said Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO of Air Canada.

Through three fundamental sustainability pillars – Our Business, Our People, Our Planet, all centred around the airline's core priority of Safety First, Always, Air Canada is proud to share the positive impact of its initiatives on issues that matter most.

Key achievements include:

Business

• Ranked in the top 3% of airlines included in the IATA Operational Safety Audit;
• Important contributor to the travel and tourism sector worldwide, which represented approximately CAN$102 billion in annual GDP and employed over 1.8 million people in Canada in 2019;
• In 2020, more than 30% of the members of the Board of Directors are women;
• Introduction of the Airbus A220, expected to average 20% less fuel consumption per seat and emit 20% less CO2.

People

• Engaged workforce of close to 38,000 employees (in 2019);
• Was recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for the fourth consecutive year, named one of Canada's Top 100 employers for the seventh consecutive year;
• Supported 315 registered charities through the Air Canada Foundation, with more than $2 million net raised for the communities we serve;
• More than 100 million miles donated by Aeroplan and its members for charitable purposes;
• Disaster relief aid deployed for Canadian floods and Hurricane Dorian.

Planet

• Experienced a 19% improvement in fuel efficiency between 2009 and 2019;
• On target to meet the annual 1.5% fuel efficiency improvement by end of 2020;
• Progressed on work toward carbon-neutral growth in 2020 for international aviation (through CORSIA);
• Continued to support the development of lower-carbon Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in Canada;
• Removed more than 38 million pieces of single-use plastic from onboard service (in 2019);
• Achieved the 2020 recycling efficiency target in 2019.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our employees, customers, communities and other stakeholders. But we must not lose sight of all the great achievements of the last decade. I truly believe that our resilience, strong culture and engagement during these unprecedented times will serve us well for years to come. We will overcome these challenges so that we continue to serve local communities and contribute to the social and economic health of our country," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer at Air Canada.

The airline obtained third-party validation of select metrics, continuously ensuring the integrity of its reporting. More details about our 2019 performance are also available in our 2019 Annual Report.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2019 served over 51 million customers. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which also named Air Canada the 2019 Best Airline in North America. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join Air Canada on Facebook.

Internet: aircanada.com/media

Sign up for Air Canada news: aircanada.com

Media Resources:
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SOURCE Air Canada

For further information: media@aircanada.ca

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Organization Profile

 

Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Air Canada together with its Air Canada Express regional partners...

Also from this source

• Air Canada, WestJet, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and...

• Air Canada Unveils Details of Transformed Aeroplan Program,...

• Air Canada Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results...

  From the report: 

  A message from Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer

  I have always said that the airline industry is extraordinarily complex, affected by virtually everything going on in the world. This is truer today than ever before. We are now living in one of the darkest periods in the history of commercial aviation. We cannot ignore the severity and abruptness of COVID-19’s impact upon Air Canada and the global airline industry, which so rapidly decimated air traffic demand around the world in a matter of weeks.

  The decisions we have made over the past 10 years, however, are demonstrating their value during these unprecedented times, as we are now being put to the test. It is evident that we have built a strong and sustainable global organization that will allow us to transcend this severe turbulence.

  This pandemic has had a significant impact on our employees, customers, communities, and other stakeholders. Throughout our history, even when the news is bad, we have remained committed to balancing the interests of our stakeholders while ensuring the survival and sustainability of our company. I genuinely believe our strong culture and engagement during this pandemic will serve us well for years to come.

  I am pleased to present our 2019 Corporate Sustainability Report. Throughout our report, we share our collective achievements of 2019, which, while they appear distant under the current circumstances, should be outlined, nonetheless. The report offers a holistic view of our sustainability efforts and their impact on the communities we serve. You will find updates related to our three new sustainability pillars – Our Business, Our People, Our Planet – and detailed evidence that clearly shows that we are having a positive impact on the issues that matter most.

  You will read more about the strength of our culture and our unwavering commitment to our core value, Safety First, Always, consistently the fundamental pillar to our sustainable future, together with the strong relationships we have with our major union groups. Our culture has once again been recognized as we have been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the seventh consecutive year and awarded as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the fourth consecutive year.

  At a time when our world is seeking solutions to sustainability issues, including global warming, we remain committed to doing our part to reduce our environmental footprint by “leaving less and doing more”. Our operational improvements focus on producing less carbon, using less energy, and creating less waste and noise – to reduce our impact and leave less of an environmental footprint. Over time, we have worked together with our employees, customers and communities and have developed a series of environmental initiatives, such as the ocean clean-up efforts we accomplished in 2019 in Tampa, Florida and Richmond, British Columbia through a partnership with 4Ocean. This partnership was applauded and earned us recognition as a Top 100 CSR Leader by World Biz Magazine.

  We believe that growth and prosperity should not come at the expense of sustainability and we are committed to operating our business responsiblyand with integrity for the benefit of future generations.

  Please be sure to follow us online and engage with us through social media on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram or via email at sustainability.‌developpement_durable@aircanada.ca as we continue to share important sustainability announcements, stories and updates.

  

  Calin Rovinescu,
  President and Chief Executive Officer,
  Air Canada

   

[Maverick]

What troubles me with this government is I think they'd happily let AC, WJ and everyone else die so they can take green credit for it.

I've never been so nauseated in my whole life with these crooks in power.

[Airband]

On 8/16/2020 at 12:49 PM, dagger said:

Here's some good news that has potential applicability for the airline industry. A quick saliva test. It's not even unthinkable that Transport Canada could licence a lab to set up a facility at each major airport so inbound travellers can get a test result while they wait.

UK take on airport testing seems to be 'You're clear, but not good to go (without quarantine)'

Quote

U.K. Airport Tests Wouldn’t Replace Quarantine - Bloomberg News

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Covid-19 testing at U.K. airports will not remove the need for travelers to self-isolate because of the long incubation period of the disease.

In comments that will come as a further blow to the travel industry, Shapps said that while the government keeps quarantine rules “under active review,” airport testing picks up only a “very small proportion” of coronavirus carriers, meaning that a second test would be needed up to eight days later.

“In between time, guess what? You would need to quarantine,” Shapps told BBC Radio 4 on Friday, when asked whether airport testing could replace the U.K. requirement for travelers from non-exempt countries to self-isolate for two weeks. “So you’re not removing quarantine entirely.”

 

[Airband]

Quote

Air Canada racks up second-most refund complaints in U.S. in May

The airline was the target of 1,705 refund complaints filed against non-U.S. airlines

Mon Aug 24, 2020 - CBC News

The U.S. Department of Transportation says Air Canada was the target of 1,705 refund complaints out of 10,415 filed against non-U.S. airlines in the month, outpacing all 80-plus foreign carriers in the category. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

Air Canada had the second-highest number of complaints about refunds to the U.S. Department of Transportation of any airline in May.

The department says Air Canada was the target of 1,705 refund complaints out of 10,415 filed against non-U.S. airlines in the month, outpacing all 80-plus foreign carriers in the category.

United Airlines was the only airline — domestic or international — to notch more refund complaints at 3,215.

Air Canada and other Canadian carriers have refused to reimburse most customers whose flights were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However the U.S., like the European Union, requires airlines to refund passengers. A complaint to the U.S. regulator offers a potential path to reimbursement for some Air Canada customers who have been turned down north of the border.

Despite the high complaint numbers, figures from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics show that Air Canada carries fewer passengers on flights with a U.S. segment than four U.S. airlines as well as British Airways and Lufthansa.

 

[Guest]

Rebooking policy update: Air Canada extends dates, Lufthansa Group drops rebooking fees

25 August 2020Canadian Aviation News

From Travelweek Group – link to story

Tuesday, August 25, 2020~ Posted by Travelweek Group

MONTREAL — Air Canada has expanded its rebooking options with an eye to increased flexibility.

Passengers with new or existing bookings made by Sept. 30, 2020 for original travel March 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2021 can make a one-time change without a fee. 

Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick confirmed that the new dates are an extension of the carrier’s goodwill policy for change fee waivers. “We now cover ticket issued up to Sept. 30, 2020 and rebooking window until Sept. 30, 2022,” he said.

Passengers who booked directly with Air Canada who need to cancel for any reason can convert their ticket to an Air Canada travel voucher, with no expiry date, or to Aeroplan Miles with 65% bonus miles.

Air Canada adds: “For customers who booked through a travel agency, Air Canada is working to make these options available.”

Travelweek asked Fitzpatrick when travel agencies would be able to access the options, and will update this story as that information becomes available.

Meanwhile Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines have announced changes to their ticket fare structure through the end of December 2020.

For all four airlines, all fares can be rebooked several times free of charge. That includes the lowest light fare without checked baggage.

Lufthansa Group Airlines had already made a one-off free of charge rebooking possible in spring, in response to the pandemic.

The new regulation applies worldwide to all new bookings on short, medium and long-haul routes. Passengers may incur additional costs if, for example, the original booking class is no longer available when rebooking to a different date or destination. Any difference will be compensated for by means of additional payment.

The Lufthansa Group airlines say they also continue to offer a return flight promise on all European routes and, together with AXA Partners, a travel insurance policy. On-site coverage applies in the event of a travel warning or a significant spread of the pandemic. Travellers will be flown back to Germany, Austria or Switzerland with Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines.

Lufthansa resumed its nonstop Frankfurt flights out of Toronto on June 3, while SWISS restarted Zurich service out of Montreal in July.

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[FireFox]

On 8/16/2020 at 10:49 AM, dagger said:

I think areas like rapid testing and effective therapeutics/treatments will have a significant impact sooner than a vaccine which may not be available to enough people much before mid-2021, if not the fall of 2021.

Here's some good news that has potential applicability for the airline industry. A quick saliva test. It's not even unthinkable that Transport Canada could licence a lab to set up a facility at each major airport so inbound travellers can get a test result while they wait. I'd think an hour would likely be sufficient. It could also benefits schools, workplaces, etc big time. Every student could be tested a few times a week. The best part of all  - it's simple and cheap. You just spit in the little tube.

The test has a 90% accuracy rate, so if you test positive, and have no symptoms, you would be retested immediately and if that comes up positive, you'd likely be sent for a conventional COVID nasal test. Widespread use of this test would also reduce pressure on labs processing nasal swab tests, so those results would be available at most, within 6-24 hours.

Thank you, NBA

https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/yales-covid-19-saliva-test-used-in-nba-gets-fda-ok-for-emergency-use

 

More good news...**(cost is estimated to be around $5 per test)

Game Changer.

https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/product-and-innovation/detect-covid-19-in-as-little-as-5-minutes.html

DETECT COVID-19 IN AS LITTLE AS 5 MINUTES

Abbott has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the fastest available molecular point-of-care test for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), delivering positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes.

What makes this test so different is where it can be used: outside the four walls of a traditional hospital such as in the physicians' office or urgent care clinics.

The new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test runs on Abbott's ID NOW^TM platform—a lightweight box (6.6 pounds and the size of a small toaster) that can sit in a variety of locations.

Because of its small size, it can be used in more non-traditional places where people can have their results in a matter of minutes, bringing an alternate testing technology to combat the novel coronavirus.

We're ramping up production to deliver 50,000 ID NOW COVID-19 tests per day, beginning next week, to the U.S. healthcare system.

 

 

[FA@AC]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/airport-covid-test-quarantine-1.5703716

[Guest]

100 Jazz Aviation employees laid off at Halifax maintenance site due to COVID-19

1 September 2020Canadian Aviation News

https://canadianaviationnews.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/100-jazz-aviation-employees-laid-off-at-halifax-maintenance-site-due-to-covid-19/

Layoffs are part of effort to eliminate about 65% of Chorus Aviation’s staff

CBC News · Posted: Sep 01, 2020

A spokesperson with Chorus Aviation Inc. said the staff reductions were gradual and some took effect last week. (Radio-Canada)

Chorus Aviation Inc. has laid off about 100 employees at its maintenance site in Halifax, according to Unifor Local 2002, the union that represents some of the company’s workforce.

The job losses are part of sweeping cuts Chorus is making across the country that will see it eliminate about 65 per cent of its staff, almost 3,200 employees. The layoffs were announced earlier this year after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive reduction in air travel.

A spokesperson from the company, which is headquartered in Halifax and leases aircraft to regional airlines, said the staff reductions were gradual and some took effect last week. The employees who lost their jobs were placed on inactive status a few months ago.

Euila Leonard, a spokesperson with Unifor, said the layoffs are all maintenance engineers working at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport for Jazz Aviation, which is operated by Chorus.

Leonard said there are traditionally about 350 maintenance employees at the Halifax location.

“The work continues at the Halifax site and as things start to turn around in the sector, I would anticipate a return to the pre-COVID staffing levels with the Jazz maintenance group,” she said.

Leonard said it’s a difficult time for all the workers in the aviation sector as travel restrictions continue.

“We could see this industry turn around, [but] it’s incumbent on the government to get involved and help let the public know it’s safe to travel,” she said. “We need to open up our borders sooner rather than later.”

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[boestar]

funny they dont mention the large number of management personnel that were let go as well.

 

[Guest]

Air Canada cancels flights between Toronto and Saint John until October

9 September 2020Canadian Aviation News

From Global News – link to story

By Alexander Quon, Global News | September 8, 2020

The tail of the newly revealed Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft is seen at a hangar at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ont., Thursday, February 9, 2017. Air Canada says it is indefinitely suspending service on 30 domestic regional routes and closing eight stations at regional airports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

Air Canada has cancelled all of its direct flights between Toronto and Saint John for the rest of September.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed to Global News that flights between the two cities will resume on Oct. 2, with one flight.

Pascale Dery said the cancellation of the flights was due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions and low demand.

Dery said the company’s flight from Saint John to Montreal allows its customers to access Air Canada’s flight network.

That flight between Saint John and Montreal resumed June 22 after the company initially pulled back service as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s the latest blow for the region’s air travel industry which has been rocked by the coronavirus pandemic.

In June, Air Canada closed its stations in in Bathurst, N.B., and Wabush, N.L., and indefinitely suspended 14 routes in Atlantic Canada.

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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[Guest]

New Air Canada Infinite Canada Flight Pass Offers Customers Unrivalled Flexibility and Certainty for Domestic Travel

16 September 2020Canadian Aviation News

• Last minute bookings, free changes and no blackouts for up to three months

MONTREAL, Sept. 16, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada today introduced its new Infinite Canada Flight Pass, designed to give customers the ultimate in flexibility and certainty for booking travel within Canada. For one flat fee, pass holders will be able to book travel without blackout or booking restrictions, make changes or cancellations without penalty, and fly as often as desired for up to three months, depending on the duration of pass purchased.

“Air Canada recognizes that as air travel begins to return to normal customers want flexibility and certainty. Our new Infinite Canada Flight Pass provides both by enabling customers to easily book and change their travel plans without any blackout restrictions or change or cancellation fees, while locking in the price of their flights for up to three months with one flat fee. The pass also gives customers the option to choose which class of fare they desire — Standard, Flex and Latitude — and allows them to earn Altitude Qualifying Miles,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

The Air Canada Infinite Canada Flight Pass will be available for purchase in Canada from September 16 to 23. Starting at a price of $2,000 per month (excluding taxes), passes are available for one, two or three months and customers can choose from three classes of service, Standard, Flex and Latitude. Features include:

• Unlimited number of flights within Canada for one fixed price throughout the duration of the pass;
• Customers are eligible to accumulate Altitude Qualifying Miles;
• Travel can be booked up to one hour prior to the flight, with no blackout dates or booking restrictions;
• No change or cancellation fees.

For more information please see  
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/special-offers/flight-pass/infinite-canada.html

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[Specs]

[Guest]

Air Canada to Make Complimentary COVID-19 Insurance Coverage Available to International Travellers

17 September 2020Canadian Aviation News

MONTREAL, Sept. 17, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada today announced that it is including complimentary COVID-19 emergency medical & quarantine insurance for eligible customers booking round-trip international flights. The coverage, available for new bookings made in Canada from September 17 until October 31, 2020, inclusive, provides emergency medical and quarantine insurance designed to give customers added confidence when booking flights and travelling abroad.

“At Air Canada, we know people have personal, family and business reasons to travel. To give them greater confidence as they do so, we have engaged Manulife to offer all Canadian residents complimentary COVID-19 emergency medical & quarantine insurance when they book round-trip flights for travel outside of Canada. Combined with our industry leading airport and onboard biosafety protocols, including Air Canada CleanCare+, and our flexible rebooking policies, customers can be assured that when they book and travel with Air Canada their safety and well-being is our top priority,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

The Manulife COVID-19 Emergency Medical Certificate of Insurance (the “Plan”) is available for new international, round-trip bookings made in Canada between September 17 and October 31, 2020, inclusive, for travel completed by April 12, 2021. If, when abroad, customers test positive for COVID-19, the Plan will provide eligible customers coverage that includes:

• Up to CDN $200,000 per insured for COVID-19 treatment medical expenses.
• Up to CDN $150 per person for quarantine costs (meals + accommodation); Up to CDN $300 per family per day up to a maximum of 14 days.
• Up to CDN $500 for expenses related to return home if the advisory from the Canadian government goes from Level 3 to Level 4 while at destination.

The Plan is available to all Canadian residents, subject to eligibility requirements, and is underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (“Manulife”), Canada’s largest provider of travel insurance. It is the most extensive geographical coverage included by a Canadian airline for Canadian residents, covering every international destination Air Canada serves. For full details, including applicable terms and conditions, please see: http://www.aircanada.com/covid-19-insurance.

Air Canada also recently announced that customers booking with Air Canada Vacations will be offered COVID-19 Coverage and Assistance Plan provided by Allianz at no additional cost designed to cover emergency medical and quarantine expenses if COVID-19 is contracted while travelling. It is available to all eligible customers who book an Air Canada Vacations package for travel by April 30, 2021 to eligible destinations. For details please see aircanadavacations.com.

Air Canada has been at the forefront of the airline industry in responding to COVID-19, including being among the first carriers globally to require customer face coverings onboard and the first airline in the Americas to take customers’ temperatures prior to boarding. It has introduced a comprehensive program, Air Canada CleanCare+, to apply industry leading biosafety measures at each stage of the journey. As well, to give customers flexibility, it has extended its goodwill policy so that new bookings made up to December 31, 2020 can be changed without fees for original travel up to December 31, 2021.

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[Specs]

A bit late.  Again!  Still though - every little bit helps.

 

 

[J.O.]

I doubt there were many insurers who were chomping at the bit to underwrite this program. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a self-funded program with Manulife simply doing the administrative duties on AC’s behalf.

[Guest]

53 minutes ago, J.O. said:

I doubt there were many insurers who were chomping at the bit to underwrite this program. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a self-funded program with Manulife simply doing the administrative duties on AC’s behalf.

'why the doubt and gloom, it may be a help towards retaining airline jobs. 

 

[Turbofan]

4 hours ago, J.O. said:

I doubt there were many insurers who were chomping at the bit to underwrite this program. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a self-funded program with Manulife simply doing the administrative duties on AC’s behalf.

It might be underwritten by AC.  But they are certainly not the only game in town.

 

https://www.medipac.com/

[boestar]

west jet is doing it too