Document Resource Content of Sector Air

Letter to premiers from Jerry Dias regarding the prioritization of airport workers for the COVD-19 vaccine.

A National Aviation Recovery Plan for Canada’s Aviation Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated Canada’s air transportation industry. In a normal year, the industry contributes roughly $10 billion to Canada’s GDP, but in April, GDP on an annualized basis fell to just $300 million. The industry cut capacity by 90% and thousands of people were laid off. Air transport workers and their employers, including airlines, airports, Nav Canada, and ground control handlers, among others, have done their part to control the pandemic by limiting capacity or even shuttering completely. The lock-down has gone on longer than anyone expected and at this point there is no end in sight. The government must do a combination of the following in order to move forward and ensure a recovery of the industry: preserve and support the industry where travel restrictions remain in place, and lift travel restrictions where it is safe to do so.

One out of every five Canadians will experience mental illness in normal times. It is both okay to feel out of sorts because of the global COVID-19 crisis. During the pandemic, we must normalize, listen to, and empathize with those experiencing distress.