Canadian Airlines Will Offer Refunds to Passengers Afraid to Fly to Zika Virus Regions

Three of Canada’s four largest airlines are giving passengers the option to backtrack on trips to regions affected by the Zika Virus outbreak.

Passengers concerned about contracting the virus in Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean, are eligible for refunds or to re-book their journey with Air Canada, Westjet, and Air Transat.

The move comes after Public Health Agency of Canada warned pregnant women to take precautions against mosquito bites when travelling to these areas, where the W.H.O. recently said the Zika Virus is “spreading explosively.” The virus is believed capable of causing serious birth defects.

The terms under which passengers can change their flights vary by airline. Via the Huffington Post:

WestJet says any passenger can change or cancel a booking prior to travelling to infected areas. No medical notes are required.

Air Canada is allowing women and their travel companions to change bookings or receive a refund. The policy applies to those scheduled to travel on a flight operated by the carrier between Jan. 28 and June 26 with a ticket issued no later than Jan. 26.

The operator of Air Transat says pregnant passengers with a medical note and companions in their immediate family can reschedule or change destinations if they were booked to fly to countries that have been listed by the Pan American Health Organization as having the virus.

Countries affected by the virus include Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadaloupe, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin, Suriname, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

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