WestJet may cut around 3

Canadian carrier WestJet is set to cut around 3,333 employees across the country amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The move is part of the company’s costs reduction strategy as the outbreak severely affects air travel.

Of the 3,333 employees, 430 are reportedly from call centre positions: 72 in Calgary, 73 in Vancouver, 35 in Halifax, and 250 in Moncton while 2,300 will be from airport operations staff, including customer service agents and baggage handlers.

Additionally, 600 employees from WestJet’s head office and its low-cost subsidiary Swoop will be affected by the layoff.

WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims said: “Throughout the course of the biggest crisis in the history of aviation, WestJet has made many difficult, but essential, decisions to future-proof our business.

“Today’s announcement regarding these strategic but unavoidable changes will allow us to provide security to our remaining 10,000 WestJetters, and to carry on the work of transforming our business. WestJet will once again serve the needs of Canadian travellers with low fares and award-winning service levels tomorrow and years from now.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

As part of the restructuring strategy, the carrier will combine call centre activity in Alberta and outsource operations in all domestic airports except Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.

Earlier this month, German carrier Lufthansa reportedly warned that as many as 26,000 jobs may be cut during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier last month, WestJet and the Airline Pilot Association (ALPA) entered an agreement to secure the jobs of more than 1,000 pilots serving across WestJet, WestJet Encore and Swoop that are affected by the pandemic.