MONTREAL — ********** says it will pause all operations of its Rouge aircraft indefinitely and lay off 80 employees effective Feb. 8.

The announcement comes less than a week after Canadian airlines including ********** suspended all flights to Mexico and the Caribbean at the request of the federal government.

**********’s flights to the region were primarily operated by Rouge.

********** announced layoffs of around 1,700 employees in January, when it saw a drop in bookings because of a new requirement that travellers entering Canada show proof of a negative ******** test.

In addition to the most recent flight suspensions, on Jan. 29 Prime Minister ************** announced a series of additional travel restrictions, including a requirement that entrants to Canada quarantine in hotels at their own expense.

********** says Rouge “remains a part of **********’s overall business strategy.”