February 10, 2022
Ottawa ON
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) Interim President, Monette Pasher, today issued the following statement in support of removing unnecessary obstacles to international travel:
“Canada’s airports join the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable in calling on the federal government to lay out a plan with a clear timeline for removing travel restrictions, including removing all testing and isolation requirements and blanket travel advisories.
“Since the start of the pandemic, the safety and health of passengers and workers has been Canada’s airports number one priority.
“Science has proven that air travel is safe. All Canadian travellers are fully vaccinated as is the industry that serves them. Since the pandemic’s start, less than one per cent of all cases of COVID-19 in Canada have been related to travel and testing at our borders is proven not an effective tool. Further, with PCR tests in such short supply and costly domestically, these tests could be more effectively used in our communities.
Since the start of the pandemic, airports have suffered $6 billion in revenue losses and $3 billion in new COVID-19 debt. Until restrictions are lifted, and all airports reopened to international travel, these costs will continue to mount, jeopardizing our future competitiveness and connectivity.
“Canada’s airports fully support the expert medical opinion shared on February 10, 2022, calling on the federal government to remove unnecessary obstacles to international travel, such as the pre-departure and on-arrival PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers.
“The science tells us that air travel is safe. It is time to get Canadians – and our economy – moving again.
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For more information, contact
Debra Ward
613 850 9118
