Air Transportation in Canada: Industry preservation and recovery
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.
