AIR CANADA PILOTS NOT AN ISSUE

Air Canada, Canada's largest carrier, said on Tuesday it has all the “fully qualified” pilots it needs to meet higher travel demand with the planned return of U.S. tourists to the country. The feds on Monday said it would allow fully vaccinated U.S. tourists to enter the country starting from Aug. 9, after the COVID -19 pandemic forced a 16-month ban. A rapid return in traffic can create staffing headaches for carriers, which have cancelled thousands of flights. As of April 13, Air Canada had 600 pilots on furlough, according to their union. The carrier had around 4,000 pilots before COVID-19, said a spokeswoman for the Air Canada Pilots Association. But Air Canada said by email the carrier took steps during the pandemic to keep pilots in the air, such as having three pilots instead of two, even on near-empty flights.