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Canada; Airlines Advertise discounted domestic flights to entice Canadians to start flying again.

Published

3 years ago

June 7, 2021

Canada; Airlines Advertise discounted domestic flights to entice Canadians to start flying again.

Throughout the pandemic, many people who live in Canada have been stock in their houses not being able to go to their business places. Many more haven’t even dreamt of travelling. Christian Okafor, Canadian based Nigerian told our correspondent that he hasn’t left his house more than twenty times in 2021. He said the few times he left his house was because he wanted to get food items from stores. Like Christian, many Canadians have been stuck at home dreaming about travels — but not living it

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions by provinces and cheap airfares may have convinced Canadians to resume travels very soon.

Despite pandemic and travel restrictions still in place in several provinces, Canada’s major airlines are advertising discounted domestic flights to entice Canadians to start flying again.

Air Canada and WestJet are currently offering 20 per cent off base fares for domestic flights — which appear low even without the discount — through to the end of December. The catch is that customers must book before Monday.

Air Transat is also offering cheap fares starting in late August, such as a one-way flight from Calgary to Toronto for $107. Air Canada and WestJet are offering the same flight for as low as $105.

Meanwhile, ultra low-cost carrier Flair Airlines is expanding its routes across Canada by adding service to several more cities, including Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown and Ottawa.

Air Canada and WestJet would not say what happens with its domestic deals after Sunday or if there are any new promotions in the pipeline.

The major airlines’ cheap airfares won’t last for long, predicts Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University in Toronto.

Dimanche told CBC news that he believes that airlines have dropped their prices for two reasons: to make some quick cash after travel plummeted during the pandemic and to get Canadians to warm up to the idea of returning to air travel.

“If you’re booking a flight right now … you’re going to tell people how happy you are with this and you’ve never seen such a cheap price to go from Toronto to Vancouver for example, and that will generate some discussion.”

While cheap fares may prompt some travellers to book a trip, there are no guarantees Canadians will be able to freely travel across the country this summer.

Currently, the Atlantic provinces still bar most visitors from entering — and those who can enter typically must quarantine for 14 days. Travellers to Manitoba must also quarantine.