Air Canada Rouge has suspended all flights on its network since February 8, with Air Canada's low-cost subsidiary specializing in flights to destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico. Following travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian Government, Air Canada has decided to suspend flights across the Rouge network.
All Canadian airlines have suspended flights to the Caribbean and Mexico.
In addition to dozens of canceled vacations, the airline will have to lay off about 80 employees. Not only Air Canada Rouge was affected by the government's decision to suspend flights. Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat temporarily suspended flights to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Air Canada Rouge resumed flights in early November, after several months of downtime. At the beginning of the pandemic, the low-cost carrier had 66 aircraft in its fleet: 25 x Boeing 767-300, 22 x Airbus A319, 14 x Airbus A321 and 4 x Airbus A320.
As the pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the industry, the airline decided to immediately withdraw Boeing 767-300 and Airbus A319 aircraft. Air Canada Rouge resumed operations in November with only 2 A321 aircraft, with the rest of the aircraft remaining parked.
Air Canada Rouge will suspend flights from February 8.
The airline operated a reduced program in the winter season 2020/21. It included flights to two destinations in the Caribbean, two destinations in the United States, one destination in Mexico and one destination in Costa Rica.
The Air Canada Rouge decision follows a decision by the Canadian government to tighten border restrictions to avoid a new wave of infections caused by the new COVID-19 strains. The tougher rules are based on a testing and quarantine regime - already rigorous - in Canada.
The suspension of these services could have played a key role in the competition with Sunwing Airlines, which last week received a $ 375 million emergency loan from the government. The loan was the first financial assistance the Canadian government provided to any airline during the COVID-19 crisis.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. However, all Canadian airlines have suspended flights to the Caribbean and Mexico until at least the end of April.