Air Canada, WestJet grounding physical distancing measures
Published June 27, 2020 at 10:48 pm
Canada’s two largest airlines are grounding physical distancing measures starting in July.
According to a report from the Canadian Press, both WestJet and Air Canada will resume booking flights to full capacity as of July 1.
For the last few weeks, the airlines have been blocking the sale of adjacent seats in order to help prevent person-to-person contact and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
However, both companies announced they would begin observing health recommendations from the United Nation’s aviation agency and the International Air Transport Association.
This decision comes despite the fact Transport Canada listed physical distancing as one of the most important safety precautions people can take to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Many would-be travellers have voiced their frustration with the companies’ decision.
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Literally the reason covid spread so fast was LARGELY due to airlines.
Yet here we are @AirCanada and @WestJet first to drop social distancing policies which happen to be the one little thing that gave any of us comfort who need to travel now. #greedyairlines #safetylast
— Lee (@itsleeinyyc) June 27, 2020
Some have even gone as far as to suggest they will not be considering either company when making future travel arrangements.
I will never fly Air Canada again and will be sure to tell anyone I know not to if you don’t reverse your decision to ignore social distancing rules. Unbelievable.
— julia (@gimletgirl10) June 27, 2020
Others have demanded to know how Air Canada and WestJet can be allowed to do this considering other businesses are required to adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
Let me get this straight, restaurants can’t open for dine-in but @WestJet and @AirCanada can return to jamming us in like sardines with only 10cm between us? @MarcGarneau why is this allowed? #cdnpoli
— Jacqui Delaney (@JacquiDelaney) June 27, 2020
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