Air Canada, WestJet slash US flights to slow coronavirus spread
Air Canada and WestJet are moving to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus by slashing flights to the U.S. and other countries.
Montreal-based Air Canada will suspend service to all but 13 of its 53 U.S. destinations starting April 1, the airline said Wednesday. Airports it will continue to serve are: Boston (BOS), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Orlando (MCO), San Francisco (SEA), Seattle (SEA), Washington Dulles (IAD) and Washington National (DCA).
Air Canada could make further reductions to its U.S. schedule based on demand or "government edicts," it said. Canadian and U.S. officials have agreed to temporarily close their border to all but cargo and essential travel.
Get Coronavirus travel updates. Stay on top of industry impacts, flight cancellations, and more.
While the reductions to Air Canada's U.S. flying are drastic, they leave more flights in schedules than some of its competitors. WestJet will suspend all international flights, including those to the U.S., for 30 days beginning March 22.
Air Transat, Porter Airlines and Sunwing Airlines are all halting flights entirely for the duration of the pandemic. Air Transat and Sunwing primarily cater to leisure travelers, while Porter caters to business travelers who want to fly to Toronto's downtown Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ).
Air Canada will also cut its international network of 101 destinations back to just Delhi (DEL), Frankfurt (FRA), Hong Kong (HKG), London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Tokyo during April. Domestically in Canada, the airline will cut its network to 40 airports, down from 62.
Related: Porter Airlines to suspend flights until June 1
Airlines around the world are cutting schedules or suspending operations outright. Delta Air Lines will reduce capacity by 70%, Lufthansa has grounded more than 90% of its aircraft and Qantas is suspending all international flying amid other cuts.
"This is obviously a terrible crisis, the most severe we have ever had," said International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Alexandre de Juniac on Tuesday. The industry organization is calling on governments around the world to provide at least $200 billion in aid to support airlines through the crisis.
Air Canada's cuts, in a way, exemplify how quickly COVID-19 has changed the airline industry. Just over two months ago, the airline feted the roll out of its first Airbus A220 in Montreal, with CEO Calin Rovinescu celebrating the Canadian ingenuity and engineering that went into the new jet that was due to open a "huge possibility of new routes."
Related: Airlines face 'critical' threat from coronavirus-related cash crunch
All four of the carrier's A220-300s are scheduled to fly through at least March 20, according to FlightAware.com. Whether they continue to fly once the latest schedule cuts are implemented on April 1 remains to be seen.
Air Canada intends to "incorporate the A220" into its continuing operations, a spokesperson told TPG.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.