CANADA SUSPENDS FLIGHTS TO CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO FOR THREE MONTHS

Canada’s Federal government has announced that the country’s major airlines will suspend flights to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico between January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2021. The move is in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. The measure applies to Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat. Quoted by CTV News, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the airlines will be making arrangements with customers currently travelling in the affected areas to organize their return flights. All travelers returning from overseas have already been advised they will need to take a PCR test at the airport when they land and quarantine at a designated hotel for up to three days at their own expense. That cost is expected to be more than CAD$2,000. If they test negative, they will be able to quarantine at home for the remainder of the mandatory two-week period, but “under significantly increased surveillance and enforcement.” Those who test positive must quarantine in designated government facilities. In addition, Prime Minister Trudeau says all international passenger flights must land only in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal starting next week.