Trudeau reaches out to airlines for help bringing Canadians stranded abroad home
Posted March 19, 2020 1:30 pm.
Last Updated March 19, 2020 2:14 pm.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Canadians stranded abroad because of the coronavirus pandemic are being offered hope they’ll be home soon.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he’s been speaking with the CEO’s of WestJet and Air Canada to book flights out of Europe.
Telecom companies are also being asked to text people information about how they can contact Global Affairs, he added.
Canadians stuck in southern destinations also have access to free trips home from Sunwing, even if that’s not the airline they initially booked flights with.
Global Affairs Canada has been inundated with calls and emails as citizens look for more information.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne, now in self-isolation while awaiting his test results from COVID-19, some Canadian travellers may even be stranded for weeks.
Trudeau also said in his Thursday address he expects the border to shut down to non-essential traffic Friday overnight into Saturday, adding both sides were still working out the details.
