This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.Tour and airline operator Transat AT says it has temporarily laid off 3,600 employees, or about 70 per cent of its workforce, as the Montreal carrier prepares to halt all flights by April 1.
Transat and airlines around the world are suspending flights as governments close borders and tell people to stay home in the Covid-19 pandemic. “These measures have forced us to totally suspend our operations,”said Jean-Marc Eustache, Transat’s chief executive officer. “We have done this in such a way that none of our customers are stuck far from home, and we are in the process of bringing them back. We expect to have finished doing this by April 1, and we will then totally halt our flights.
Transat said on Monday some of the layoffs take effect immediately while others require one-month notice.The layoffs of pilots, cabin crew, service agents and others adds to the massive jobs toll of the Covid-19 outbreak. Toronto-based Porter Airlines suspended flights on March 20 and began issuing layoff notices to a majority most of its 1,500 employees. Air Canada, which employs about 36,000 people, has made deep cuts to its international network and is reducing its domestic routes, as well.
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globebusiness Boy a lot of these people won't ever be called back I'm told. This happening all to often right now, companies are closing up and others are cleaning house nd using this virus to do it. When this virus is over so will we be, because there will be no decent jobs left.
globebusiness NoCorporateBailouts