The COVID-19 Pandemic Was A Key Factor In The Final Decision

The Minister of Transport has announced that the Government of Canada has approved the proposed purchase of Transat A.T. Inc. by Air Canada, subject to strict terms and conditions that are in the interests of Canadians. In determining the proposed purchase is in the public interest, the Government of Canada considered a broad range of factors, such as level of service, wider social and economic implications, the financial health of the air transportation sector, and competition. The COVID-19 pandemic was a key factor in the final decision...

SWAPA Opposes the Implementation of Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing

Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) has come to strongly opposed the implementation of a pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirement for domestic air travel. Such a mandate would decimate domestic air travel demand, put aviation jobs at risk, and create serious unintended consequences. International travel demand is down as much as 48% since the implementation of a pre-departure testing requirement. Decreases in domestic travel demand would run even higher as the cost of testing in many cases would exceed the cost of travel. This reality would simply cause travelers to choose an alternative method of travel with a much greater probability of exposure.