Transport Canada will allow 8 more airports to receive international passenger flights from Nov. 30.
The government’s “strict vaccine travel requirements that will be fully phased in by November 30, and the proof of vaccination are creating opportunities for safe travel for vaccinated Canadians,” said Transport Canada in a press release Tuesday.
The new Canadian airports welcoming international tourists include:
St. John’s International, John C. Munro Hamilton, Waterloo, Regina, Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker, Kelowna, Abbotsford, and Victoria.
“Increased vaccination levels have allowed us to safely re-open these additional Canadian airports to international passenger flights,” Transport Minister told reporters.
Other airports serving international flights include Halifax Stanfield, Québec City Jean Lesage, Montréal-Trudeau International, Ottawa/Macdonald–Cartier International, Toronto Pearson, Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver.
According to TC, both the airports and the Public Health Agency of Canada have partnered to develop effective COVID-19 protocols in order to securely handle international travelers.
Bear in mind that all air travelers aged 12 and older, and airline employees must be completely vaccinated by the same date. Otherwise, they will not be allowed boarding.
Travelers using federally regulated transport such as VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer railways, as well as cruise ship passengers on trips of 24 hours or longer will be also covered by the rule.
In February, federal authorities lowered the number of airports authorized to receive international flights as part of a scheme to discourage non-essential travel and -somehow- force the crowds to certain -more supervised- areas.
The goal was to prevent the virus from spreading to other regions of the country. The reopening of new airports would be determined by the government’s ability to manage its coronavirus pandemic.
Regarding the current status of COVID-19 in Canada, officials have stated that they have “learned” from what happened in Alberta last summer when the local government opted to lift the mask mandate and the health system was overwhelmed by new cases.
Thus, as provinces further relax COVID-19 restrictions, masks should be among the “last things to go even with high vaccination rates,” experts say.
To date, Canada has fully vaccinated 84.67% of its eligible population.