Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today that a flight has been arranged to bring home Canadians stranded in Morocco, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the transport sector.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today that a flight has been arranged to bring home Canadians stranded in Morocco, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the transport sector.
“We’re in discussion with Canadian airlines to help Canadians stranded abroad come home,” Trudeau said this morning from outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where he remains in self-isolation after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. “We will have more details to share but the first flight will be picking up Canadians from Morocco this weekend.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says ‘exceptional’ measures are now needed to fight the pandemic. 22:01
Air Canada is sending a plane Saturday that will ferry Canadians home from the North African nation to Montreal. Passengers will have to pay for this flight as it’s a commercial flight — not a rescue flight chartered by the Canadian government. The cost of a ticket is $1,272 plus tax.
Travellers can apply for up to $5,000 in financial support from the Canadian government to help with COVID-19-related travel disruptions. The loan must be repaid.
Air Canada said it has a wide body aircraft, with 450 seats, leaving Saturday from Casablanca. The Foreign Affairs Department is co-ordinating arrangements for Canadians in Morocco wishing to return home. The flight is scheduled to depart at 6:50 p.m. local time.
The tickets are reserved for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Reservations will be accepted on Air Canada’s website.
An urgent message has been sent to the email addresses of all Canadi