Critics claim Canada’s cancellation of all flights to México and the Caribbean is unfair to the region as it favors destinations such as Florida.
Others consider the targeting of Mexico and the Caribbean as particularly unfair to those with family in the region.
“What for one person may simply be a flight on their way to a holiday, is for others a link to their family,” Said Vancouver resident Cathy Pacheco.
In an interview with CTV News, a ministry of transport spokesperson assured individuals with family members in the affected countries that routes were still open via the U.S.
The move came as Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat voluntarily agreed to suspend all flights to the region. Routes are scheduled to resume operations at the end of April.
Mexican airline Aeromexico announced that it would cancel flights to Canada from the second week of February until the end of April.
Ottawa claims that the flight cancellations targeting Mexico and the Caribbean are intended to curve non-essential travel, as these destinations are favored amongst Canadian tourists.
Emergency flights for Canadians who would otherwise be stranded in Mexico and the Caribbean are still in operation.
Mexico’s tourism minister, Miguel Torruco, estimated that Ottawa’s decision could result in up to 791,000 fewer tourists.
