MONTREAL — Air Canada is temporarily suspending all flights to Italy amid a sharp drop in demand as Italy goes on lockdown in an effort to contain the coronavirus.

According to reports, the last Air Canada flight to Rome will take off from Toronto tonight, March 10. On March 11 the final Canada-bound flight will come back, to Montreal.

In late February Air Canada began waiving change fees for more than half a dozen Italy gateways.

The airline says it aims to restart its Italy flights May 1.

Air Canada took similar measures in late January with its flights to China. The carrier temporarily halted Beijing and Shanghai service in the wake of the first weeks of coronavirus cases in China.

Initially keeping its travel ban to the north including Milan and Venice, Italy this week announced the entire country would face travel restrictions in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

Sabrina Moras with the Italian National Tourism Board in Toronto (ENIT) says her office is continuing to monitor the situation in Italy. “Things may change by May, we will continue to monitor it and keep our travellers informed.”