Air Canada drops three flights from Regina, one from Saskatoon

Air Canada is cutting four routes originating in Saskatchewan cities due to weak demand caused by COVID-19.

In a statement on its website, the airline said flights from Regina to Ottawa, Winnipeg and Saskatoon were being suspended indefinitely, as was a route from Saskatoon to Ottawa.

Air Canada said affected customers will be contacted and offered options, including alternative routings where available.

It’s another blow for the Regina International Airport, which could be in debt by September due to reduced travel.

The affected flights were among 30 domestic regional routes cut by the airline. Air Canada also closed eight stations at regional airports across the country.

“These structural changes to Air Canada’s domestic regional network are being made as a result of continuing weak demand for both business and leisure travel due to COVID-19 and provincial and federal government-imposed travel restrictions and border closures, which are diminishing prospects for a near-to-mid-term recovery,” the airline said in the statement.

“As the company has previously reported, Air Canada expects the industry’s recovery will take a minimum of three years. As a consequence, other changes to its network and schedule, as well as further service suspensions, will be considered over the coming weeks as the airline takes steps to decisively reduce its overall cost structure and cash burn rate.”

Air Canada already has reduced its workforce by approximately 20,000 employees and cut its system-wide capacity by about 85 per cent.