Image Credit: Canadian Press
COVID-19

WestJet to suspend commercial international and transborder flights by Sunday

Mar 16, 2020 | 8:57 PM

OTTAWA — WestJet has announced a one-month suspension of international and transborder commercial flights.

In a statement by CEO and President Ed Sims, WestJet says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it clear to all Canadians abroad that it is time to come home.

On Sunday (March 22) WestJet will suspend scheduled commercial operations for all international and transborder flights for 30 days.

“To be clear, this means our final commercially scheduled flights from international and transborder destinations will launch on Sunday night by 11:59 p.m. local time; after that, we will be operating rescue and repatriation flights in partnership with the Canadian government,” the statement reads. “As of tonight, international and transborder tickets are no longer available for sale during this 30 day period.”

On Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. MDT, WestJet will suspend all outbound international ticket sales for travel until Sunday “so we are no longer sending Canadians out of the country and can instead focus on bringing them home”.

The airline is in the process of lowering prices on the remaining seats into Canada in all cabins.

“In addition, we will also reduce our domestic schedule by approximately 50 per cent. At this point, all network changes are in place for the next 30 days.”

Go here for the full statement.

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