TORONTO — By day’s end yesterday Sunwing had repatriated more than 60,000 stranded Canadian travellers.
Sunwing began its repatriation efforts on March 16 after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canadians vacationing and working abroad were strongly urged to return home immediately as borders tightened and screening measures ramped up in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The March 22 running total included more 3,000 stranded Canadian travellers across the Caribbean, Mexico, Cuba and Florida who were offered seats free of charge. Sunwing announced March 20 that it would offer any remaining seats on its repatriation flights to any Canadians stranded in destination free of charge.
Meanwhile today’s flights bring the company closer to having all Sunwing customers home. The last repatriation flights will operate today, March 23, with close to 30 flights across a wide range of destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida and Cuba. Sunwing says the schedule may change as the situation on the ground in various destinations continues to evolve.
As announced March 16, after its repatriation flights, Sunwing will temporarily suspend all flights as it waits out the coronavirus pandemic.
Sunwing continues to offer available seats on its repatriation flights from southern destinations to stranded Canadians, free of charge – including for non-Sunwing customers.
We understand a lot of Canadians are still stranded outside the country and struggling to get home,” said Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group. “That’s why we want to open up any extra capacity we have. It’s the Canadian thing to do.”
At the current estimate, Sunwing will be operating almost 400 flights and spending more than $26 million to bring these Canadians home safely, at no extra cost to the customer.
Canadians looking to return home on a Sunwing flight are asked to check the most up to date flight times at https://www.sunwing.ca/pages/
If a northbound flight is operating from their destination, they should make their way to the departure airport and present themselves to the Sunwing Airlines check in counter.
If space remains prior to departure at the closure of check in, any available seats will be offered to Canadians or Canadian permanent residents free of charge.
“Given the unprecedented situation the focus of our company and destination team remains on the repatriation of our customers. We therefore ask to please refrain from calling us since availability can only be confirmed at the airport ahead of the closure of check in for each flight service.”
