14 July 2020
Vancouver, BC – Recently, Air Canada announced service to 30 domestic destinations would be indefinitely suspended, including the closure of eight smaller Canadian bases. The decision underlines the changing context of air transportation against a backdrop of uncertainty, which as all indicators show, will persist for the foreseeable future. Despite the harsh economic realities, it is regrettable that Air Canada made these decisions.
It’s deeply concerning to learn of intended domestic flight reductions given the impact this will have on members, who have already experienced hardships over the last couple of months. “Economic outlooks and projections, some of which have been provided by Air Canada, reflect a bleak remainder of 2020, but we remain hopeful these decisions are only temporary measures.” said Fred Hospes, President and Directing General Chairperson of District Lodge 140. The nature of the industry is cyclical and while an event of this magnitude is unprecedented, Hospes added that, “the IAM has dealt with cyclical downturns in the industry before.”
Despite this, Hospes commented that the union is aware of the realities and timelines for an expected recovery. However, Air Canada’s continuing cuts and reductions are certainly a cause for concern. The series of actions undertaken by Air Canada have had a hard and direct impact on District Lodge 140’s membership, and the union is watching the situation closely.
The next two to three years will define which airlines adapt to the new environment, and to a greater extent, what the industry will look like. One thing is certain, few things will remain the same in the post-pandemic environment, and the IAMAW is deeply dedicated to protecting the rights of workers in changing working environments and emerging realities.
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For more information:
Fred Hospes, President and Directing General Chairperson of District Lodge 140 (fhospes@iam140.ca)
Frank Saptel, Communications Representative, IAM Canada (fsaptel@iamaw.org)
