Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Kamloops Airport advises air travellers to expect more restrictions

Mar 17, 2020 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — Flights are still arriving and departing from Fulton Field for the time being, but with more and more travel restrictions coming down each day, that could change. As of Wednesday (Mar. 18), YVR will be one of only four Canadian airports still allowed to take international arrivals, and with a mandatory 14-day self-isolation policy, Canadians coming home from vacation are facing a significant challenge due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Definitely we will see a further drop in traffic,” YKA Managing Director Ed Ratuski told CFJC Today. “We’ve seen some ebbs and flows for now as people come back earlier than planned from vacation. We’ll see some flight reductions in the coming days for the rest of the month, as things start to stabilize.”

On Monday night, WestJet announced they planned to cease all international flights, including to and from the USA, effective Wednesday. Ratuski says he expects other airlines to follow suit.

“I think we’ll see that with all the airlines in the entire industry, reducing capacity as the demand drops off,” Ratuski said. “We’re working with our airline partners to plan for that going ahead.”

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All travellers returning to Canada from overseas are facing a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period. For a Kamloops couple who recently returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic, accessing Employment Insurance benefits from the federal government has proven challenging thus far.

“I had some questions because it kept coming up saying I needed a medical certificate which we’re not allowed to go and get,” Dianna Williams said in a phone interview Tuesday morning. “However, when I tried to call the number, it rings four times — the 1 (800) O Canada number you’re supposed to call — every time I call it, it just hangs up after four rings.”

Ratuski says sanitation staff at YKA have doubled down on their efforts to ensure the cleanliness of the facility. He says the airport will remain open for the foreseeable future despite the COVID-19 crisis.

“We have to keep the facility operation for our guests and our airline partners,” Ratuski explained. “It does propose some challenges for us, but we’re working through those contingency plans to keep the facility fully operational.”