Sunwing is resuming flights from Vancouver to Mexico next month

Dec 2 2020, 9:07 pm

Sunwing Airlines will resume flights from Vancouver to Mexico beginning next month.

In a release this week, the airline said the initial program will operate to select destinations for the winter season using a combination of seats contracted from third-party carriers as well as Sunwing Airlines.

Flights will depart from Vancouver starting January 9, 2021.

“We are thrilled to be resuming flight service,” said Andrew Dawson, president of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “We’re committed to providing our customers on the west coast with convenient vacation packages to sunny destinations.”

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sunwing said “the highest Canadian health and safety standards are in place with the Safe with Sunwing commitment.”

The airline’s announcement comes the same week that the Canadian government announced that international travel restrictions will remain in place until the end of January.

According to the federal government, the restrictions will extend until January 21, 2021, and mandatory quarantine will remain in place for all returning Canadian citizens and permanent residents with limited exceptions.

“Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is my most important responsibility,” said Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair. “We have introduced a number of policies to keep Canadians safe but must remain flexible and adapt to the evolving COVID-19 situation, while keeping your health as our top priority.”

Travellers entering Canada must follow the rules set out by the emergency orders under the Quarantine Act.

“No one should travel when sick,” the orders states. “Commercial airline restrictions may also prevent you from boarding your plane if you’re sick. However, Canadians, persons with status under the Indian Act and permanent residents who have COVID-19 symptoms are allowed to return to Canada.”

Still, anyone entering Canada will be:

  • Asked if they have a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing
  • Required to acknowledge that they must:
    • quarantine for 14 days if they don’t have symptoms or
    • isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms
  • Asked if they have a suitable place to isolate or quarantine, where they’ll have access to basic necessities, including water, food, medication and heat during the winter months, and won’t have contact with people who are 65 years old or older, have underlying medical conditions, and/or have compromised immune systems
  • Given instructions about the actions they must take under the emergency order and the penalties for non-compliance

As well, travellers entering Canada must:

  • Provide traveller-contact information through the ArriveCAN mobile app, or an accessible web-based form, or a paper form
  • Undergo screening by a border official
  • Answer any relevant questions when they arrive in Canada and during the 14-day period while in quarantine or isolation

There are currently border restrictions for discretionary (optional) travel to Canada:

Discretionary travel includes, but is not limited to, tourism, recreation, and entertainment.

If a traveller’s entry is permitted, they’ll be subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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