Canadians currently travelling abroad are scrambling to return home after the federal government advised against international travel and warned that commercial flights may not be available for much longer.
Canadians travelling abroad are scrambling to return home after the federal government advised against international travel and warned that flights may not be available for much longer.
On Saturday morning, Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne recommended Canadian travellers return to Canada via commercial means “while they remain available.”
My parents are in Portugal until the end of the month – others there with them have looked at coming home early but at $1,000 extra a person it’s cost prohibitive
On its official global travel advisory, the federal government warns that countries have put travel or border restrictions in place and new ones could be “imposed with little warning.”
“Your travel plans may be severely disrupted and you may be forced to remain outside of Canada longer than expected,” the website says.
A government spokesperson clarified that the advisory applies to all Canadians, including students studying abroad.
Mass disruptions
CBC News has heard from several residents across the country who are battling airlines to reschedule flights to come home sooner.
Travellers say they’re waiting on hold for hours as they try to reach travel agents and airlines to rebook their flights, fearful of getting stuck in their current destination. Others say there are very limited or simply no outbound flights.
Wish I could. Westjet app says the waiting time is now beyond my currently scheduled takeoff. Many flights appear full online.
Renee Gallioz and her husband have been at their second home in Merida, Mexico, since mid-November.
They were planning on returning home to Vancouver Island in mid-April but rebooked their flights for Wednesday after B.C. officials recommended against non-essential international tr