WestJet bars passengers from boarding for improper virus test as Canadian rules start

WestJet said Thursday it had denied 10 passengers from boarding a flight for lacking the proper test for the novel coronavirus, just after a Canadian government requirement that passengers show proof of a negative result before boarding took effect. Faced with a mounting second wave of infections, the government said last week that passengers would need to test negative for the coronavirus before boarding a plane bound for Canada, starting on Jan. 7. Global airlines have been calling for COVID-19 testing as a way to ease travel restrictions and reopen borders without crippling quarantine measures, although Canada still requires international passengers to self-isolate for 14 days. News of the surprise Canadian measure left airlines fearful of possible confusion over which testing facilities abroad were eligible and how the results from the PCR test must be presented to carriers. WestJet said on Thursday it could not board the passengers because they did not have eligible tests to meet the requirement. Air Canada said it is helping some passengers obtain the tests. <br/>