WestJet strongly opposes travel advisory, calls on feds to release data behind decision

After the federal government issued a travel advisory, asking Canadians to avoid international travel due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant, Calgary-based airline WestJet is expressing its concerns.


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Canada recommends against non-essential international travel


In a release sent out Wednesday, WestJet says the decision isn’t based on science and data, and it significantly undermines the proven safety record of air travel during the pandemic.

“Air travel is the most tested and protected consumer activity in Canada, every person travelling internationally is tested on average twice throughout their travel journey,” said WestJet President and CEO Harry Taylor in a release.

“As the only fully-vaccinated air travel sector in the world, WestJet is calling on the government to publicly share the travel related COVID-19 data that has been used to re-impose the advisory and advice targeted towards fully-vaccinated Canadians and the travel and tourism industry.”

WestJet says Canada’s measures remain out of step with the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States.

It says the measures also contradict guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) which state blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of COVID-19

“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have safely flown more than seven million guests and air travel has been commended for its commitment to safety. Fully-vaccinated Canadians should not be singled-out for choosing to take part in a safe activity,” explained Taylor.

“Travel bans, restrictions and blanket advisories are devastating to the continued economic recovery of our country and place tens of thousands of recently recalled Canadian travel and tourism jobs at risk. We are very concerned today’s announcement will create unnecessary disruption and chaos in advance of the holiday travel season.”

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