http://www.commercialaviationtoday.com/Air Canada Transferring Nine Bases to Regional, Unit, Affecting 330 Jobs
Air Canada yesterday announced that it is transferring mainline service from nine of its bases, with service to operated exclusively by the airline's regional carrier Jazz. The move will affect 330 jobs at the mainline carrier.
Service will be provided exclusively by Air Canada Jazz in the following cities effective May 3: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton, New Brunswick; Quebec City and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Effective Oct. 1, service to Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan and Whitehorse, Yukon also will exclusively provided by Air Canada Jazz.
With its regional jet fleet eventually growing to include 65 jets, Air Canada Jazz says the transferred routes will have increased service beginning this summer (with the smaller jets), while the airline also will extend jet service to some of the airline's current turboprop routes.
"With the addition of more jet aircraft to the Air Canada Jazz fleet, we will be able to significantly enhance our customers' travel experience in communities across Canada," said Ben Smith, Air Canada's vice president responsible for network planning at Air Canada and Jazz in a statement. "An expanded Air Canada Jazz regional jet fleet will allow us to realign our network to ensure that we deploy the right aircraft type to meet travel demand in each market we serve, while offering superior comfort, choice in nonstop markets served, and more frequencies that get our customers to their destination faster than ever before.
Affected by the move are about 330 mainline ramp and airport customer service employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the Canadian Autoworkers Union (CAW). The airline says that affected employees will have options available for them, such as being able to transfer to other Air Canada locations at company expense, taking a severance package or availing themselves of the layoff provisions in their collective agreements. Air Canada says it also will be discussing with Jazz possible employment opportunities at the regional. But initial reaction to the announcement from at least one affected union was negative.
"We are just as shocked as the members must be," said IAM District 140 in a bulletin to members. "We have contacted our legal counsel to advise us of the appropriate steps necessary to ensure your legal rights are protected and all options are explored. In addition we are in consultation with other unions that are involved."
Air Canada has been saying for some time that it plans to shift domestic service to smaller, higher-frequency jet service. With the introduction of 60 new 75- and 90-passenger Embraer regional jets into the domestic and transborder markets, the airline also is and shifting larger capacity Airbus and Boeing aircraft into international service. In its announcement, Air Canada also said it will introduce six additional widebodies into its fleet for increased international service.
Air Canada cities going to Jazz
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