UPDATE 1-Air Canada to prolong sunlight-vacation spot flight suspensions as a result of May perhaps

(Provides comment from WestJet, context)

MONTREAL, April 14 (Reuters) – Air Canada on Wednesday joined rival WestJet Airlines in extending a a few month suspension of sunlight-destination flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, as the place wrestles with a surge in unsafe virus variants.

Canadian carriers agreed in January to suspend operations to sunshine locations until finally April 30 thanks to problems above the virus spreading during spring split visits.

The country’s major provider mentioned it will extend the suspensions via the end of May well, an Air Canada spokeswoman stated by email. The airline would proceed running some critical flights carrying cargo to Mexico Metropolis, Barbados and Kingston, while coming back again with temporary international personnel and Canadians overseas on return visits.

Onex Corp-owned WestJet mentioned on Tuesday it would prolong its solar-flight suspensions until eventually June 4.

Canada is owing to import plenty of vaccine doses to ensure every human being can obtain a shot by the finish of June, but the distribute of new virus variants dangers overtaking the rate of vaccination.

Air Canada, having difficulties with a collapse in targeted traffic due to the pandemic, reached a offer on Monday on a long-awaited support package with the federal governing administration that would allow it to entry up to C$5.9 billion ($4.71 billion)in cash. ($1 = 1.2515 Canadian dollars) (Reporting By Allison Lampert Editing by Chris Reese)