July 2022

WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing may have a “deep and negative effect on Canadian jobs,” a powerful Canadian union argues. Unifor, which represents some 16,000 airline workers across the country, late last week filed s public interest submission with the Canadian government, arguing that Transport Canada and the Competition Bureau must consider that a Sunwing-WestJet merger could lead to lower wages and lost jobs. “Unifor is concerned that, despite the promises made to create jobs, this acquisition will actually lead to more sub-contracted work with lower wages and precarious conditions,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “Not only Read more

WestJet has reached a tentative agreement with workers in Calgary and Vancouver that should allow the airline to avoid a strike. WestJet and Unifor, the certified union representing certain WestJet airport employees at YYC Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport, said they reached a tentative agreement late Sunday night on the first collective bargaining agreement between the organizations. Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership. “WestJet is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the important contributions of its valued airport employees, in balance with the long-term success of our airline,” Read more

Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre says that, if elected Prime Minister, his government would approve a runway expansion at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Island airport, which would allow jets to fly in and out of the downtown. Poilievre said allowing jets at YTZ would increase competition in the aviation sector and provide passengers with an alternative to Toronto Pearson Airport, which has had a chaotic summer filled with crowds and cancellations. “Travel at Pearson is a mess right now,” he said. “There could have been way more flights out of Billy Bishop airport in downtown Toronto, meaning more competition and more Read more

WestJet is trimming flights in and out of four Eastern Canadian destinations this winter, but adding more western Canadian flights and sun destination routes. The Calgary-based airline said this week it will end service to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on Nov. 15. (Swoop, a WestJet, subsidiary, will fly in and out of PEI, however). WestJet said it also is cutting winter flights in and out of Quebec City, Fredericton, and Sydney, Nova Scotia. In a news release, WestJet said the changes are part of a strategic focus shift to concentrate more resources in the west, and to boost sun destination Read more