TORONTO — Porter Airlines has pushed back its tentative restart date to March 29 due to the ongoing global health crisis.

The airline previously suspended operations until Feb. 11 but according to president and CEO Michael Deluce, more time is needed as COVID-19 vaccine rollouts continue across Canada.

“With the introduction of vaccines, we are more optimistic about determining a date in the near-term to reintroduce flights than at any point since the pandemic began,” said Deluce. “More time is needed to assess the vaccine’s influence on current travel restrictions and when it is appropriate to begin operations again. We expect to establish a timeline for this to happen in the first part of 2021.”

Further updates will be provided this winter based on the status of the pandemic and government measures, added Deluce.

Porter initially suspended operations on March 21, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.