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McNaney said the new rule, which mandates a 14-day quarantine in Canada regardless of the test result, will cause uncertainty and “frustration” for carriers and passengers alike.
“We’re very concerned about the confusion that’s going to occur and the disjointedness of implementation that’s going occur. And it all could have been avoided,” he said.
With less than a week to implement, we do not have the interim orders in writing
Air Transat vice-president Christophe Hennebelle says Ottawa announced the requirement, which takes effect this Thursday, without any prior consultation.
“It kind of came out of the blue. We had no advance notice,” he said.
“We feel that all that is a bit improvised and basically the feeling we have behind that is that the government wants to stop travel but does not say it.”
Transport Canada did not immediately respond to questions Monday.
The rule comes as a devastated airline sector continues to bleed cash following a collapse in demand caused by the pandemic.
It also arrives amid growing criticism of the federal sick-leave benefit that pays $500 per week for up to two weeks to Canadians quarantined after touching down from abroad, including after vacations.
Some federal and provincial politicians are among those who chose to travel beyond Canada’s borders over the holidays, despite public health recommendations against non-essential travel.
As of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, travellers coming from countries where PCR testing is “unavailable” will be required to stay at a “designated quarantine facility” for two weeks upon arrival in Canada, rather than at home the way test-toting passengers can.
