Air Transat to Suspend All Operations

Canadian carrier Air Transat announced today that it will be suspending all operations starting April 1, until April 30, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

“Transat would like to reassure you that we are making every effort in coordinating our repatriation flights,” the airline said in a statement on its website.

“We are striving to ensure that the number of operating flights and available seats is sufficient to bring back all our customers to their country of origin as quickly as possible. All repatriations will be completed by April 1, 2020.”

The suspension is only one of the measures the company has implemented to stem the financial impact the outbreak has had on travel—Air Transat’s parent company Transat AT is laying off nearly 70% of its employees, some 3,600 people.

“Some of these layoffs are effective immediately, while others will take effect following advance notice of up to one month”, the airline said.

“Similar measures are being implemented in the other countries where Transat has employees. Executives who are not being laid off have accepted voluntary pay cuts, as have members of the board of directors.”

Air Transat isn’t the only Canadian carrier to suspend operations in the wake of the outbreak. Porter Airlines also announced it would be suspending all operations until June 1, while Air Canada has suspended a majority of its international and U.S. transborder flights.