Montreal, April 28, 2003
Air Transat announced today that it is stepping up measures to ensure that customers continue to receive quality service in a healthy environment aboard its aircraft.
Canada’s premiere charter airline today said that over and above the measures it already has in place, it is now stepping up health related preventive measures in the following manner. Effective immediately, Air Transat will be proceeding with daily sanitization of all its aircraft interiors; sterilization gel and/or antiseptic soap will be in aircraft lavatories for more thorough hand washing; health kits containing masks, thermometers and gloves will be carried on all flights to contain a potential SARS case. An information letter will be given to all customers at check-in and it will include a health check list questionnaire.
Since April 4, 2003, Air Transat already had the following measures in place: aircraft disinfection kits onboard aircraft flying to southern destinations; masks available on flights to and from Toronto; crews were trained on how to deal with a potential SARS case. Furthermore, Air Transat has a long standing in-flight medical assistance contract providing services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with MedAire, a medical advisory firm specialized with in-flight and on the ground health emergencies.
The airline has also followed, and continues to follow, all the guidelines announced by Transport Canada and Health Canada. Air Transat is offering a peace-of-mind policy as well for passengers who may be required to follow quarantine orders from government health officials. These customers can thereby obtain flight travel credit (for the same dollar amount as their original reservation file) that will allow them to re-book air travel until December 31st 2003.
'The measures we are taking are intended to protect the flying public and our employees from potential health hazards. These measures should reassure passengers that concrete steps are being taken by Air Transat to ensure the safest and healthiest environment possible for them while they are in our care,' stated Phillipe Sureau, Executive Vice-President of Transat, the Airline’s parent company.
About Air Transat
Air Transat serves some 90 destinations in 25 countries. With a fleet of 15 aircraft, the airline is Canada’s leading leisure carrier. Air Transat is a subsidiary of Transat A.T. Inc. Transat A.T. Inc. with its head office in Montreal, is an integrated company specializing in the organization, marketing and distribution of holiday travel. The core of its business is in Canada and France. Transat is also involved in value-added services offered at travel destinations and distribution through travel agency networks. Transat is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE:TRZ).