TORONTO —
WestJet Airlines says it is suspending all international flights — including to the U.S. — for the next 30 days to help control the spread of COVID-19.
In a statement posted on the company’s website late Monday night, WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims said the airline would be suspending commercial international and transborder flights effective March 23.
“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,” Sims said.
As of Wednesday, the airline said it will also suspend the sale of outbound international tickets during the 30-day period until March 22.
The Calgary-based airline said it is “no longer sending Canadians out of the country” and will instead focus on bringing them home.
“WestJetters are known for our level of care and this situation is no different,” Sims said. “While this is a difficult time, we now have the responsibility as a Canadian airline to bring our citizens home.”
WestJet will be lowering ticket prices for any remaining seats into Canada for those trying to return. The airline’s domestic flight schedule is also being reduced by 50 per cent for the next 30 days.
The decision comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Canada will be shutting the border to non-Canadian citizens. Permanent Canadian residents, immediate family members of Canadian citizens, diplomats, air crews, and U.S. citizens are still being allowed into Canada at this time.
“If you’re abroad, it’s time for you to come home. If you’ve just arrived, you must self-isolate for 14 days, and finally all Canadians as much as possible, should stay home,” Trudeau said.
WestJet said it is also lowering prices on remaining seats on flights into Canada, and is reducing its domestic flight schedule by 50 per cent.
“While this is a difficult time, we now have the responsibility as a Canadian airline to bring our citizens home,” Sims said.
Earlier on Monday, Air Canada said that it is cutting its seat capacity in half and withdrawing its earnings forecast amid a “severe drop in traffic” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
–With files from CTVNews.ca’s Rachel Aiello and The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported net income of US$357 million for its third quarter, down from US$364 million in the same quarter last year.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its profit amounted to 79 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with 79 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, totalled US$2.29 billion, up from US$1.84 billion in the same quarter last year.
Consolidated comparable sales were up 0.3 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 93 cents US per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 90 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Fortis Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $420 million, up from $394 million in the same quarter last year.
The electric and gas utility says the profit amounted to 85 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 81 cents per share a year earlier.
Fortis says the increase was driven by rate base growth across its utilities, and strong earnings in Arizona largely reflecting new customer rates at Tucson Electric Power.
Revenue in the quarter totalled $2.77 billion, up from $2.72 billion in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Fortis says it earned 85 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 82 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
TORONTO – Thomson Reuters reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as its revenue rose eight per cent.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it earned US$301 million or 67 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The result compared with a profit of US$367 million or 80 cents US per diluted share in the same quarter a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled US$1.72 billion, up from US$1.59 billion a year earlier.
In its outlook, Thomson Reuters says it now expects organic revenue growth of 7.0 per cent for its full year, up from earlier expectations for growth of 6.5 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Thomson Reuters says it earned 80 cents US per share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of 82 cents US per share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 76 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
