Skift Take
Air Canada places the blame for a "grim" 2020 on Covid-19 and what it sees as onerous restrictions from the Canadian government. But it's betting that it can convince the government to replace quarantines with a testing mandate, and maybe even some financial relief for airlines.
Air Canada is lobbying hard for mandatory Covid-19 testing for air travelers to and in its namesake country, even as its peers in the U.S. balk at a similar proposal from the new Biden administration.
The Montreal-based carrier has partnered with various organizations to prove that broad testing protocols can control the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, Air Canada has put its money where its mouth is and is finalizing an order for rapid tests from pharmaceutical firm Abbott to administer to customers and staff. And it has also partnered with pharmacy chains to offer travelers pre-departure testing before flights.
All these moves are in the hope of one thing: that the Canadian government will drop its strict Covid travel restrictions in favor of mandatory testing. Currently, the country requires all international travelers to show proof of a negative Covid test and quarantine for 14 days after arrival. It also has closed the border with the U.S. to all but essential travelers, and asked airlines to suspend all flights to the Caribbean and Latin America through April 30. In addition, several Canadian regions and provinces mandate two-week quarantines for domestic flyers.
“The silver bullet here is a very, very effective testing protocol that replaces the blanket restriction, that replaces the quarantine,” Air Canada CEO Calin Rovi
