Air Canada is extending Altitude status for all loyalty members until the end of 2021, the company said Monday.

"Loyalty is a two-way street – certainly in good times, but especially so in hard times,” said Mark Nasr, vice president of loyalty and eCommerce at Air Canada, in a release.

“Altitude members have shown outstanding commitment to Air Canada, and to provide some certainty during these uncertain times, we are extending members' current Altitude status to the end of 2021.”

The company said Altitude members’ current status for this year would automatically be extended through 2021. The members would also be able to gift their status to a family member or friend.  

Air Canada said that for every five Aeroplan miles its loyalty program members donate to a charity engaged in fighting COVID-19, they will receive one mile towards achieving Altitude status until the end of April. The airline has also decided to pause the expiry of Aeroplan miles until May 14.

In January 2019, Air Canada completed its purchase of Aeroplan from Aimia Inc.

Air Canada announced last week it was temporarily laying of 16,500 staff and slashing its capacity as governments shut borders in an effort the contain the spread of COVID-19.