Swine flu + airlines

[Invertago]

Anyone see a drop in passengers on the airlines now with the big flu scare? Are passengers wearing masks on board now? Just wondering how this will impact team teal and big red.

[SkyWolfe]

Not sure, but I think we should stop flight to Mexico, and monitor ones returning for the time being. Just until this clears up anyway...

[2milefinal]

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[Rubberbiscuit]

This has the potential to cause as much, or more damage than the current recession we are in if not contained. Passenger will stop traveling and businesses could potentially be affected by a high number of absent workers. Some governments say potentially 40% of the workforce could be out of commission at the same time. Lets hope not!

[orbit]

It ceases to amaze me that our dumb politicians are taking such chances ...it sure must be political not putting out a travel advirory ASAP?
Why not? as the US just did put out a TRAVEL WARNING TO MEXICO...only "go if you have to"!
I guess Canada has lots of money to put people in hospitals and people to waste as the may die fom this...that being said we are lucky no one as of yet!
It is like smoke in the cockpit do you keep flying? or air on the side of caution and land and ensure all is ok!
It doesn't cost anything except your life if you are wrong !

[teacher]

Didn't see anybody with masks on today.

[orbit]

Canadians don't need the masks as of yet but the travel advisy would got policy to deter any possible outbreak!

[orbit]

OTTAWA - The country's top medical official warned Monday that the numbers of Canadians sick with swine flu will swell and some will likely die from the illness.


"Simply because we're seeing mild symptoms so far does not mean we can take this for granted," said David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer.


"We will likely see more cases. We will likely see more severe illnesses. And we will, likely - unfortunately - see some deaths, as well."


The grim prognosis came as Canada mulled issuing an advisory warning against non-essential travel to Mexico because of the swine flu outbreak there"
I got this from yahoo...pretty soon it's going to be to little to late precaution!? I hope not; that being said I hope they learn from that and act sooner next time!

[ASM150]

honestly...this is stupid...why would the government not put a stop to travell to mexico? or atleast have people check them before boarding on the return trip? (maybe they are i don't know but dosent sound like it) .. i saw a picture in an ottawa paper of a girl getting screened before entering a bar in Mexico City..so i guess mexico government is doing there best to stop the spread of the illness...but the canadian government seemed not to worried about it, hopefully the recession isnt making them not say "DON"T GET ON A PLANE AND GOTO MEXICO"...cuz i read somewhere on either foxnews.com or cnn.com that no Cancellations with "major airlines" to mexico have happened. 140 + deaths in mexico city.

[Invertago]

Well, it is in the US, Newzealand, Spain etc and BC, Saskatawan and Novascotia now. As a side note, seems to be fatal only a small percent of the time. Us young healthy guys should be fine... oh wait seems it goes after the young and healthy first... damn.

[SkyWolfe]

The news last night said there was only a 1% death rate... so far. I think the fear is that it will mutate...

[Lost Lake]

If Muslims get swine flu, do they have to kill themselves???

[E-Flyer]

Okay lost... that went too far

[Rubberbiscuit]

If Muslims get swine flu, do they have to kill themselves???

I too love a good joke but let me see if I have got this right..... you can't post the name of a criminal even if the name is used published by newspapers and other media, but it is ok poke fun an entire religious group?

[yycflyguy]

If Muslims get swine flu, do they have to kill themselves???

Well it made me laugh.

This is a total over reaction from all the sensational media reports. Interesting how Air Transat announced they are no longer serving Mexico... well they stop their SEASONAL Mexico service every summer and they only do the sun spot destinations where they are no reported cases. Jesus, talk about manipulating the media to make yourself look good.

[GARRETT]

73,800 people died from cancer last year in Canada alone, and people are scared of a frikin' swine flu that has killed 140 people?.......REALLY?
It's always something. West Nile, SARS, Bird Flu, Mad Cow, the list goes on. I say we all stop worrying and get on with our lives.

[moody]

how can poking fun at people who believe that there is a space god who sent his son down to earth on a suicide mission be going to far

[amraam]

CTV reporting that Air Transat / WestJet / Thomas Cook / Air Canada Vacations have all cancelled travel to Mexico:

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/ ... algaryHome

amraam

[Inverted2]

I think the media is blowing this whole thing waaaaay out of proportion. People get scared, watch the 24hr news channels. The news channels get more money. No one is even getting seriously ill in Canada or the US. Mexico City has 20,000,000 people. Having 150 people die over a flu outbreak is normal. 4000 die in Canada every year of the flu.

Now they want to rename it because Swine Flu is offensive to Jews!

Its all Hogwash!

[orbit]

We are now at category 5 pendemic with the swine flu...one more to go!
Apparantly 6 is the highest! they sure make it sound scary ....
Meanwhile Gov't including ours where sitting on there asses in the initial days saying how prepared they where( because of SARS) apparantly not!
An advisory wasn't issued till after the airlines allowed folks to cancel and rebook flights.

Oh yes they don't want to call it swine flu a Canadian swine / pig raiser lol thinks we should call it something else because it gives the product a bad name....WTF eh? this while people may be dying and they wan't to mask it why and where the virus came from....
the old saying ,,,,you all heard a short while ago...
"YOU CAN PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG;BUT IT STILL IS WHAT IT IS A PIG"

[Cat Driver]

If it was not for airlines we would not have to worry about a virus spreading all over the world in days.

Back in the days of the sailing ships the carriers of the virus would be dead before they got here.

Get rid of airlines and problem solved.

[yycflyguy]

We are now at category 5 pendemic with the swine flu...one more to go!
Apparantly 6 is the highest! they sure make it sound scary ....
Meanwhile Gov't including ours where sitting on there asses in the initial days saying how prepared they where( because of SARS) apparantly not!
An advisory wasn't issued till after the airlines allowed folks to cancel and rebook flights.

Oh yes they don't want to call it swine flu a Canadian swine / pig raiser lol thinks we should call it something else because it gives the product a bad name....WTF eh? this while people may be dying and they wan't to mask it why and where the virus came from....
the old saying ,,,,you all heard a short while ago...
"YOU CAN PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG;BUT IT STILL IS WHAT IT IS A PIG"

Don't put the cart in front of the horse. Health Canada issued a travel advisory before the airlines pulled the plug on flying to Mexico. Smells of mitigating possible litigation to me even though the WHO has urged countries not to close borders Canada went ahead and is in front of the panic pack with all its airlines cancelling service or drastically reducing it. The US had no such public health advisory issued hence all its airlines are continuing its service.

[orbit]

"""Don't put the cart in front of the horse. Health Canada issued a travel advisory before the airlines pulled the plug on flying to Mexico."""" WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! Air Canada was the 1st then morning after Westjet followed suit telling passengers if they don't want to go in light of the swine flu they will not be penalized for altering their flying plans to Mexico Then 2 days later Canadian Gov't; a day after the Americans put out a travel advisory to Mexico....
I agree WHO is a bit slow in getting the ball rolling after all they should have taken leadership...!

I sure hope this is all for none but better safe than sorry!

[yycflyguy]

"""Don't put the cart in front of the horse. Health Canada issued a travel advisory before the airlines pulled the plug on flying to Mexico."""" WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! Air Canada was the 1st then morning after Westjet followed suit telling passengers if they don't want to go in light of the swine flu they will not be penalized for altering their flying plans to Mexico Then 2 days later Canadian Gov't; a day after the Americans put out a travel advisory to Mexico....
I agree WHO is a bit slow in getting the ball rolling after all they should have taken leadership...!

I sure hope this is all for none but better safe than sorry!

Well I guess it's time for a good old fashioned pissing contest.

Here is the link that shows that the Public Health Agency of Canada issued its advisory the morning of April 27th.
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/2009 ... 27-eng.php

Here is a link that describes that Westjet, Air Transat, Conquest and Carnaval cruise lines all pulled the pin on Mexico the morning of April 28th.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c6245.html

And finally here is the Air Canada link showing that the evening of April 28th Air Canada announced reduced service to Mexico.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c6201.html

Again, I reiterate that this is the airlines mitigating legal culpability by these announcements. Why do I know all this. Because my wedding May 5th in the Mayan Riviera will most likely be cancelled.

None of the US airlines have cancelled service, only relaxed their change of reservation policies. Why? Because there has not been a federal advisory issued.

[D5GRVTY]

Is anyone else feeling a bit of deja vu? An economic downturn, a overly hyped animal to human infection............SARS anyone?