Air Canada Boosts US Services
As cross-border travel restrictions ease, the flag carrier has included 220 US flights on its summer schedule
Air Canada has announced a summer schedule that includes 55 routes to 34 destinations in the US. The new schedule comes as the Canadian government begins easing travel restrictions between the two countries on August 9.
Canada’s new rules allow fully vaccinated Americans to enter Canada for non-essential travel. Eligible travelers will also not be subject to quarantine hotel requirements.
However some travel restrictions remain in place for all travelers, regardless of vaccination status. All arrivals will still require a negative pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result, but most fully vaccinated travelers will not need a post-arrival test
Air Canada’s summer schedule will offer up to 220 daily flights between the US and Canada, including flights from Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary to US destinations such as Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
The airlines says it aims to restore its services to all 57 US destinations “as conditions allow.” It also plans to resume onboard services such as in-flight dining on transborder flights greater than two hours in early August.
The airline has developed a digital solution to enable customers flying from the US to Canada, and between Canada and select European destinations, to scan, upload and validate COVID-19 test results to the Air Canada app prior to arriving at the airport.
Seats are currently on sale on the website. Air Canada’s current refund policy means that should a flight be canceled or rescheduled by more than three hours, customers are entitled to a full refund, an Air Canada Travel Voucher, or the equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65 percent bonus.
Details on Air Canada’s transborder schedule during August and September are available here. However, as with all things pandemic-related, the schedule “may be adjusted as required based on the COVID-19 trajectory and government restrictions,” according to a statement by the airline.
“The easing of travel restrictions announced today by the federal government is an important step based on science, and we are very pleased to rebuild our Canada-US network,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s senior vice president, network planning and revenue management. “Canada and the United States share close ties and restoring air connectivity will contribute to both countries’ economic recovery.”
