Air Canada is suspending indefinitely its Saskatoon-Ottawa, Regina-Saskatoon, Regina-Winnipeg, and Regina-Ottawa routes. The airline says it is discontinuing service on 30 domestic regional routes and closing eight stations in airports across the country. The company says the changes are being made because of continuing weak demand for both business and leisure travel due to COVID-19, and the provincial and federal government-imposed travel restrictions and border closures.

About 20 thousand employees, more than 50 per cent of its staff, will lose their jobs through layoffs, severances, early retirements, and special leaves. 79 aircraft from its mainline and Rouge fleets are being removed. Air Canada says it expects the industry’s recovery to take a minimum of three years. As a result, other changes to its network and schedule as well as further service suspensions will be considered over the coming weeks. Air Canada reported a net loss of $1.05 billion in the first quarter of the year.