Air Canada says it has enough current pilots to get back to normal business now that the federal government has eased border restrictions. On Aug. 9, U.S. travellers with proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will be able to enter Canada without mandatory testing and hotel stays or quarantine. Non-essential visits have been banned for 16 months. The airline said it’s been ramping up for a return to normal and the majority of its pilots are ready to fly.
About 15 percent of its 4,000 pilots are still furloughed, many of them Boeing 767 pilots. The airline retired its 767s during the 16 months and is having them converted to carry freight. By adding a third pilot on flights that would normally require only two, the airline managed to maintain currency on most of its roster. “We have all the fully qualified pilots we require as travel ramps back up,” an Air Canada spokesperson said.