The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the vast majority of flight attendants in Canada, said in a statement that it is appalled by the news of the closure of the Air Transat base at Vancouver International Airport.Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion delivered straight to your inbox at 7 a.m., Monday to Friday.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Air Transat said the move comes as the company centralizes operations in Eastern Canada. The company told employees last week that it will be relocating its Vancouver flight crews to Montreal and Toronto by next July. The company said, in an emailed statement, that an assistance program is in place “to support our teams in this transition process.”Article content
A maintenance team will remain in Vancouver to ensure the maintenance of Air Transat aircraft and the flight schedule to and from Vancouver will remain the same, the company said.
Levasseur said Air Transat must take responsibility for its employees who will be laid off or need to transfer thousands of kilometres away.