Air Canada has disclosed that it would cut 1,700 jobs as it reduces operations amid new lockdown restrictions.
While making the disclosure, the company said that the 25 percent service cut for 2021 first quarter will also affect 200 employees at Air Canada’s Express carriers.
In a statement, Lucie Guillemette, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We regret the impact these difficult decisions will have on our employees who have worked very hard during the pandemic looking after our customers, as well as on the affected communities.”
Guillemette said increased travel restrictions by federal and provincial governments increased travel restrictions have affected the company’s bookings.
The company said in line with the reduction, its capacity in the first quarter of 2021 will be around 20 percent of its capacity in the first quarter of 2019.
Air Canada informed airports in Atlantic Canada recently that it would cut extra routes in the region by suspending every flight in Gander, N.L., Goose Bay, N.L., and Fredericton, N.B., till further notice.
Air Canada said it was making efforts to contact affected customers to give them options loke refunds or alternative travel arrangements.
The Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Airports Association, Monette Pasher, said in a statement that the effects of the service cuts would be encountered for years to come in communities that are in Atlantic Canada.
Pasher said: “We cannot just flip a switch to turn air service back on when we get to the other side of this pandemic.
“We are going to have a long hard road ahead of us to rebuild air access for our region.”
