Article content
The Omicron variant continues to hammer WestJet as the company announced more flight consolidations and cancellations to the end of March.
Article content
This is the second extension of departure alterations for the Calgary-based airline, and is expected to impact 20 per cent of flights over the next seven weeks.
According to WestJet’s daily operations update, as of Feb. 4, there were 482 active cases among WestJet group employees. To this point, these cancellations have impacted 1,393 flights.
Article content
Interim president and CEO Harry Taylor said health restrictions are also impacting the airline’s ability to operate.
“For two years, WestJet has gone above and beyond to keep our guests safe throughout their travel journey,” said Taylor in a press release. “Travel advisories, restrictions and testing requirements were meant to be temporary, yet our industry has now reached an impasse that is severely impacting the recovery of our airline and sector. The time is now to present a path forward that is in line with our global counterparts, reflective of current data and once again makes travel accessible and affordable for Canadians.”
Article content
Taylor pointed to duplicative PCR testing for asymptomatic, fully vaccinated travellers as a major issue. He said they are pushing for the return to surveillance arrivals testing and the elimination of quarantine and isolation for travellers awaiting their results after returning to Canada.
He said WestJet is asking the federal government for a roadmap to recovery for the travel and tourism industry based on science and the current realities of the pandemic.
Article content
Travellers impacted by cancellations will be notified of changes to their itineraries by email.
Twitter: @JoshAldrich03
