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FrIn consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic, how does Air Canada ensure a safe flight?
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada made safety its first concern and has been continuously updating its health and safety policies and procedures for both travelers and employees at every stage of the journey. Air Canada’s Travel Ready hub offers you all the information you need about:
- Entry requirements and testing locations.
- Face covering policy.
- Health and safety measures.
- Flexible change and cancellation policies.
In January 2021, Air Canada received the Diamond certification from the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying, which recognizes that Air Canada has one of the best biosafety programs in the airline industry that establishes the highest standards of hygiene, cleanliness, and attention to public health guidelines.
Entry Requirements and Testing Locations
You can use the Travel Ready hub as a guide to help you understand key travel requirements and find testing locations. You can view the latest travel requirements for your trip, both on departure and return, or you can explore your options when planning a trip. Using the interactive map, you can easily find entry regulations for your next destination.
As most countries require a negative COVID-19 test, Air Canada helps you familiarize yourself with this procedure by presenting you the steps needed to be taken and offering a list of pre-departure testing locations.
Face Covering Policy
Air Canada requires passengers to wear face coverings when boarding, deplaning, and onboard the aircraft. All passengers over the age of 6 (over the age of 2 on flights to/from the U.S.) must use an approved face-covering made with protective layers of absorbent fabric that secures to the face with ties or ear loops fitting snugly over the nose, mouth, and chin.
To be exempt from wearing a face covering, the following three conditions must be met: a valid medical certificate confirming that a medical reason prevents you from wearing a face-covering during your travel, authorization from Air Canada for a face mask exemption obtained through the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk, a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours from the flight departure.
Air Canada also requires all customer-facing employees to use Personal Protective Equipment such as masks, gloves, and face guards. Additionally, the in-flight crew is provided with safety glasses and gowns.
Health and Safety Measures
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada has taken and implemented a number of bio-safety measures, including the Air Canada CleanCare+, a program designed to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by enhancing health and safety measures at every stage of the journey:
- At the airport (check-in, lounge, and boarding) – the disinfection of frequently touched areas such as check-in counters and kiosks, hand sanitizer dispensers positioned strategically throughout the airport, required travel document validation, health screening questions, etc.
- On board – sanitization procedures with an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer, overnight thorough cleaning of the entire aircraft (including the inside of each overhead bin and their handles and wiping down sidewalls), all high-touch areas (seat belt buckles, seat controls, armrests, headrest covers, tray tables, personal screens and all in-flight entertainment surfaces, cabin windows and shades, etc.) sanitized with hospital-grade disinfectant pre-flight, lavatories regularly cleaned with disinfectant, continuously refreshed cabin air through HEPA filtration systems that capture 99.9% of airborne particles.
Touch-free check-in with Online/Mobile Check-in and TouchFree Bag Check services and the new boarding process allows for minimization of contact and ensuring appropriate distancing.
Air Canada resumed onboard service. Before flying, you can review the onboard serving offer with the new tool available on Air Canada’s website. Pillows and blankets provided onboard are wrapped and sealed. Also, disposable Customer Care Kits that include a mask, hand sanitizer packets, and two antiseptic wipes are provided complimentary onboard all Air Canada and Air Canada Express flights. For sanitary reasons, the bag used to package these items also doubles as a trash bag to dispose of any personal items. For sanitary reasons, the bag used to package these items also doubles as a trash bag to dispose of any personal items.
Flexible Change and Cancellation Policies
Until September 30, 2021, you can make unlimited changes to your booking with no change fee. After September 30, 2021, you can make one change at no extra charge. You only need to pay the difference from your original fare if your new fare has a higher price.
If you need to cancel your booking, you can save the value for future travel. The full value can be transferred to an Air Canada Travel Voucher that never expires and is fully transferable or convertible into Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus. Refundable tickets are always refundable (a cancellation fee may still apply).
If your flight is canceled by Air Canada, you can make a refund request if you are not rebooked on another flight that departs or arrives within three hours of your original departure or arrival time or if a connection is added to your itinerary.
