Airlines call on federal government to delay rollout of pre-departure COVID-19 tests

Just days before the government is set to roll out mandatory pre-departure COVID-19 testing for travellers returning to Canada, the CEOs of the country's largest airlines are calling on Transport MinisterMarc Garneau to delay the rollout until later this month, CBC News has learned.

The heads of Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transatand Sunwing along with two major trade associations,the International Air TransportAssociation and National Airlines Council of Canada recently sent a letter to Garneauwarning him that the federal government's timeline for implementing the testingprotocolisn'tfeasible.

The carriers are proposing thatthe newrules due to take effect on Thursday should insteadkick in on January 18.

"Minister, we have very serious concerns about the feasibility of successfully implementing such a significant measure in the extremely short time[frame] announced, without consultation or a coordinated plan," reads the letter toGarneau, obtained by CBC News.

The government announced the new testing regime last week, following multiple reports of individualCanadians includingpolitical figures travelling abroad for the holidays in defiance of government advisories against non-essential travel.

The new requirements could discouragetravel at a time when the airline industry is struggling with a dramatic drop in traffic. The rules that come into effect on Jan. 7 say that travellers five years of age or oldermustreceive a negative result on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test the standard nose swab test for detecting active COVID-19 infections within 72 hours of boarding a flight to Canada.

Airlines say theyweren't consulted about the new policy before it was announced. In their letter to Garneau, they argue the new rules createa "real risk that Canadians will now be stranded abroad" and say they'veheard from thousands of Canadians alarmed by the possibility.

"With the current timeframes and lack of clarity and detail, we must note particular concern over the very real prospect of Canadians of all ages being denied boarding and stranded at destination, in the current context of significantly reduced flight frequencies and overstretched airline, government and consular resources due to the pandemic," said the letter.

Some Canadians can still board planes without COVID-19 tests

Garneau said last week, however, thatif travellers can show they couldn't obtainCOVID-19 tests abroad, they can stillboard flights home but they'll need to quarantine in a federally-regulated facility in Canada.

Travellers in countries where testing is available are required to show documentation of a negative test result to airlines prior to boarding a flight to Canada, said Garneau.

In a statement today, the minister'soffice reminded Canadians that travel restrictions and measures can change on short notice. The office said Garneauplans to implement thechanges as plannedon Jan. 7 at 12:01 am ET as an"additional layer of protection for Canadians."

"We are reaching dangerous case numbers in areas across the country and we cannot afford to stop the important work being done toprotect the health and safety of Canadians," said Garneau'spress secretaryAllison St-Jean.

"Despite a challenging environment, airlines have played an important role since the beginning of the fight against COVID-19 and we are confident they will continue to do so."

The airlines say in the letter that they were"perplexed that airline and tour operators were not consulted" first, since they'llbe expected toimplementthe new rules andthey only have draftguidance from the federal government on how to proceed.

"Minister, at the time of writing this letter, mere days before going into force, the Interim Order elaborating the new measure has yet to be finalized and only preliminary draft guidance material is available," says the letter.

Airline industry calledfor testing at Canadian airports for months

The new rulescomeafter the airline industry spentmonths calling onthe federal governmentto conduct COVID-19 testing at airports in Canada.

"... our industry has invested in and publicly advocated for rational testing protocols, such as arrival testing in Canada where the quality and consistency of testing can be properly regulated and controlled," said the letter.

Intergovernmental Affairs MinisterDominic LeBlanctold CBC News on Dec. 30 thatother provinces have spoken to the federal government about duplicatinga pilot project in Alberta.The program a partnership between Alberta and the federal government allows eligible international travellers to take a COVID-19 test at one of two border crossings in the province:the Calgary International Airport and the Coutts land border crossing.

Travellers whose tests come back negativecan leave quarantine as long as they remain in Alberta for14 days. They alsomust obtaina second test six or seven days after arrival at a participating community pharmacy.

LeBlanc said the federal government doesn't have enough data from the pilot yet to determine whether a shortened quarantine period is sound health policy.