SHARE ON: |
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
Citing volatile demand and instability in the face of continuing federal government travel advisories and restrictions, Calgary-based WestJet has announced plans to slash jobs and its flight schedule.
Airline officials say approximately 30 per cent of its current flight schedule for February and March will be removed and the resulting schedule will be a decline of nearly 80 per cent compared to the average for this time period in previous years.
Ed Sims, president and CEO of WestJet, says the airline has experienced significant reductions in new booking and unprecedented cancellations following the federal governments announcement of inbound testing as well as the governments continuation of a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for travellers.
The entire travel industry and its customers are again on the receiving end of incoherent and inconsistent government policy, said Sims in a statement released Friday.
We have advocated over the past 10 months for a coordinated testing regime on Canadian soil, but this hasty new measure is causing Canadian travellers unnecessary stress and confusion and may make travel unaffordable, unfeasible and inaccessible for Canadians for years to come.
Sims says the new policy left the airline with no other option than to place a large number of employees on leave, while impacting the pay of others. WestJet plans to introduce furloughs, temporary layoffs, unpaid leaves and reductions to the hours of workers.
The layoffs and furloughs will be primarily on the operations side and will include ticket agents, flight attendants and other staff members who work in airports. Staff on the corporate side will be required to take one week of unpaid leave between the beginning of February and the end of April.
This is a cruel outcome for loyal and hardworking staff who have been diligently working through the pandemic.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, the airline confirmed the workers affected by the change had yet to be notified. WestJet says it has 5,700 active employees and 5,200 inactive employees, at present.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the challenges facing Canadas airlines — and passengers who had their travel plans halted — while addressing the media Friday morning.
We have invested close to 1.5 billion in support for airline companies in this country to support workers with a wage subsidy, with other measures, because we know that the airline industry is extremely hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Trudeau. People shouldnt be travelling and that of course is a direct challenge for the airline industries to manage through.
At the same time, weve made it very clear that we expect people to be reimbursed. We expect regional routes to be protected. We expect certain things from the airline industry and those discussions about how were going to make sure that people are protected, as we offer supports, are continuing.
WestJet says it will soon operate at a rate of approximately 150 daily departures, returning to levels last seen by the airline in the spring of 2001.
The airline is suspending 11 routes including:
Calgary - Las Vegas
Calgary - Orlando
Edmonton - Phoenix
Edmonton - Cancun
Edmonton - Puerto Vallarta
Vancouver - Los Angeles
Vancouver - Palm Springs
Vancouver - Phoenix
Vancouver - Cabo
Vancouver - Cancun
Vancouver - Puerto Vallarta
Correction:
The original version of this story indicated the airline was planning to eliminate the equivalent of 1,000 positions. WestJet confirms the equivalent of 1,000 employees will be affected by temporary layoffs, hour reductions, furloughs or unpaid leaves.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
3 pm |
| 24 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 27 KM/H
GUSTING TO 41 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 pm |
| 24 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 42 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 pm |
| 24 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 29 KM/H
GUSTING TO 45 KM/H |
|
|
|
6 pm |
| 24 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 25 KM/H
GUSTING TO 44 KM/H |
|
|
|
7 pm |
| 23 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 45 KM/H |
|
|
|
8 pm |
| 20 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 28 KM/H |
|
|
 |
9 pm |
| 17 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 11 KM/H
GUSTING TO 13 KM/H |
|
|
|
10 pm |
| 14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 10 KM/H
GUSTING TO 12 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 24 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 23 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 24 ℃
LOW OF 9 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 23 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 23 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 24 ℃
LOW OF 14 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 25 ℃
LOW OF 16 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 18 ℃
LOW OF 14 ℃ |
| MODERATE RAIN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
CHEVELLE
HUNTER EATS HUNTER
03:07 PM |
|
 |
ARCHITECTS
LANDMINES
03:03 PM |
|
 |
AD INFINITUM
FOLLOW ME DOWN
03:00 PM |
|
 |
INXS
NEED YOU TONIGHT
02:57 PM |
|
 |
QUEEN
HEADLONG
02:52 PM |
|
 |
ACDC
SHAKE A LEG
02:48 PM |
|
 |
BROOKLYN COMIC
FRIENDS LIKE US
02:43 PM |
|
 |
SPLIT CHAIN
HEADWAY
02:39 PM |
|
 |
METALLICA
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
02:33 PM |
|
 |
HEADSTONES
EVERYTHING OR NOTHING AT ALL
02:30 PM |
|
 
 |
