New travel advisories caused by COVID-19 are expected to have an impact on the already struggling airline industry.
Last week, Ottawa advised against all non-essential international travel in response to the spread of the Omicron variant.
Federal officials said at the time that the travel advisory would remain in place for at least the next four weeks.
The executive director of the Atlantic Canada Airports Association does not see a big change in holiday travel since people have already planned ahead.
But Monette Pasher said they have “significant concerns” about January and February, which are already traditionally low months for air travel.
“This is a time where people book discretionary travel. It’s not essential. They’re getting away, there’s pent-up demand for sun flights.”
Airlines have seen bookings slow down in light of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, said Pasher, but she was unable to provide any specific figures.
“People aren’t going to book new travel when they feel very uncertain,” she said. “If we look back at what this advisory has meant in the past for our industry, it’s very concerning.”
Pasher said it remains to be seen what the coming weeks will hold for the airline industry, but added that airlines have put in a lot of time and energy to keep travellers safe.
“Our industry has worked so hard in putting safety measures in place … so I think people can be reassured by that if they are travelling,” she said.
That includes requiring air travellers to be fully vaccinated and masked, rapid testing at airports, and enhanced filtration and cleaning, said Pasher.
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