Westjet to double flights despite travel advisories

Westjet has announced plans to double its flights next month as the Calgary-based airline resumes some travel that had been curtailed as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic.

The airline released its updated July schedule on Monday, with additional domestic and U.S. flights.

Westjet will offer flights to 39 destinations in Canada, five in the U.S. and one in Mexico from July 5 to Aug. 4, the airline announced.

That’s slightly more than double the number of flights it offered in June, but still down 76 per cent from its level of service in July 2019.

The airline suspended its international operations March 22 amid widespread shutdowns across the economy due to the

COVID -19 pandemic.

Even with increased capacity, Westjet is still only flying five per cent of its normal schedule.

“An increase in flight numbers is not an indication of our recovery or return to normal operations,” the company said in a statement.

“We are monitoring our guest loads carefully to ensure we are managing our airline responsibly and will adjust the schedule to meet the needs of our guests, our employees as well as our airline ... This schedule reflects where we are seeing demand, while also considering the travel restrictions and quarantines that were put in place a number of months ago.”

Alberta entered Stage 2 of its economic relaunch strategy last week, but non-essential travel is still discouraged until the province reaches Stage 3.

Provincial officials have not yet outlined a timeline for advancing to the next stage of relaunch.

A global travel advisory still warns Canadians against travel outside of the country.

All Canadians returning from abroad, as well as all international travellers entering the country, are required by federal order to self-isolate for 14 days to guard against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The U.s.-canada border will remain closed to all but essential travel until at least the end of July.

The Canadian travel and tourism industry has been calling for “clear direction” on the loosening of travel restrictions, ideally before the end of the summer season.