Canada to Lift Last Covid, Mask Restrictions

Canada will end all entry restrictions on October 1, with major national airlines Air Canada and WestJet welcoming the change.

Gone are requirements that certain travelers provide proof of vaccination, undergo pre- or post-arrival testing, or quarantine or isolate after arrival, the Canadian government said on Monday. Fully vaccinated travelers have not been subject to most of these rules since March 1. The country also lifted mask requirements for planes and trains.

"Air Canada welcomes the removal of these restrictions," Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Craig Landry said. "We believe it will greatly facilitate travel, help to continue stabilizing the country's air transport sector and support Canada's economy."

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech echoed Landry's comments in a separate statement, adding that the "announcement aligns with the travel policies of other major nations."

International airline seats to Canada is down 19 percent compared to 2019 in September, according to Diio by Cirium schedules. For comparison, international seats to the U.S. — where travel restrictions were eased months ago — are down just 15 percent.