Air Canada is suspending flights to Yellowknife beginning Jan. 23.
In a press release, the airline wrote its “overall network capacity” is down about 80 per cent from 2019.
“Operating in this environment is not sustainable and we have made difficult decisions to suspend all passenger operations to Yellowknife airport until further notice.”
Air Canada alleges travel restrictions and “blanket quarantine” rules have stifled demand.
The government of the Northwest Territories says it was only informed of the news Tuesday morning.
“Although there are other airlines still serving the North, this change will eliminate some of the options currently afforded to NWT residents when they choose to travel by air,” says Diane Archie, minister of Infrastructure, in an emailed statement.
The emails says the changes will not affect the territory’s access to essential services such as medical travel.
“The GNWT is obviously disappointed by the news shared by Air Canada today, but understands that businesses must make decisions that they believe best fit with their business model and market conditions,” Archie writes.
There is no indication of when flights will return to Yellowknife.
