Privately held WestJet Airlines has announced a further extension of its service cuts as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 hinders the domestic and international travel industries.
In a news release, the Calgary-based carrier said it is extending its scaled-back schedule through to March 31.
The airline’s service was originally reduced about 15% in December. Then, in January, the carrier announced it was cutting service 20% until the end of February.
“Travel advisories, restrictions and testing requirements were meant to be temporary, yet our industry has now reached an impasse that is severely impacting the recovery of our airline and sector,” said Harry Taylor, interim chief executive officer (CEO) of WestJet, in the news release.
Taylor added that it is “disappointing that Canada remains stagnant in its approach and continues to make travel inaccessible and punitive for Canadians and inbound tourists.”
