SunLink

Jun 23, 2021

Charter flights begin to return to full capacity

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, so do the protocols put in place to protect our people. Following a thorough risk assessment, Suncor charter flights will gradually begin to return to full capacity in mid-July, and all flights returning to full capacity beginning August 1.

As more and more people choose to be vaccinated, protocols are beginning to ease in some jurisdictions. When the time comes, we will take a data-informed and risk-based approach to de-escalating protocols across our facilities to ensure we’re returning to normal in the safest possible way.

With rapid antigen screening a requirement for Suncor charter flights, an increase in vaccinated workers, frequent hand sanitizing, mandatory masking, and WestJet’s increased cleaning protocols, Suncor’s risk assessment indicates that there is little risk to the health and safety of passengers in opening access in full seat selection.

Implementation of seating caps during the pandemic response were never intended to be permanent. What makes an airplane, and the entire journey, safe is the layers of enhanced cleaning, the wearing of masks and the hospital-grade HEPA filters that remove 99.999 per cent of all airborne particles.

Suncor’s charter flight operator, WestJet, opened middle seats on commercial flights July 1, 2020. Click here to read WestJet’s statement on seat distancing.

As a reminder, additional screening does not replace the requirement for self-assessments, hand washing, mask wearing, physical distancing, close contract tracing and laboratory-PCR diagnostic COVID-19 testing. We must not let our guard down.

Flights

Rapid antigen screening is now required for site access (including for all Suncor charter passengers departing from the Calgary, Edmonton or Saskatoon International airports and at site gates) at Firebag, Fort Hills and MacKay River and for Turnaround workers supporting planned maintenance events at Base Plant.

If you any questions, please speak to your leader or email RapidAntigenScreening@suncor.com

Additional safeguards and procedures provide confidence for safe travel, including:

• Transport Canada-mandated mask wearing for both employees and guests
• Transport Canada-mandated health questionnaire pre-boarding
• Electrostatic fogging on our aircraft
• Removal of all published material on board to reduce the risk of spread via contact
• Modifications to inflight service to reduce contact between guests and crew
• Rapid antigen screening will continue at flight hubs and onsite and medical grade masks will be available for use

Suncor’s charter flight operator, WestJet, opened middle seats on commercial flights July 1, 2020. Click here to read WestJet’s statement on seat distancing.

Workers must take part in a temperature screening process prior to flight check-in. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will be conducting mandatory temperature screening, prior to entering security, for all passengers travelling on commercial and charter flights for Calgary (YYC) Edmonton (YEG) and Saskatoon (YXE) airports.

• Online check-in for Suncor WestJet northbound flights is available
• Anyone with a temperature of 100.4°F/38°C or higher will be unable check-in or board their flight.

Busing at site

• Bus, site shuttle and light vehicle capacity limits will remain for the time being. This is due to less effective ventilation systems.
• Passengers must still follow shuttle loading patterns in line with COVID-19 protocols. Contact tracing will remain a protocol on all buses.

To ensure we’re maintaining our transportation protocols including wearing a mask, passengers are asked to refrain from eating and drinking on buses and planes to avoid transmission and keep each other safe.

The safety of our people is always our number one priority, please continue to uphold Suncor values and respect the safety protocols in place to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Let’s also make sure we recognize our frontline peers. Reach out, smile and say thanks as they do their best to help keep us safe and working.

Thank you and travel safe,

Travel Support