“Deep disappointment”: Canadian North pilots face layoffs during bargaining

Canadian North pilots are expressing “deep disappointment” following the airlines’ managements’ announcement of pilot layoffs, reflecting the downsize of the 737 operation, said the group’s union, the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA).

The “unsettling news” comes at the end of the first week of bargaining discussions between the union and company, the ALPA said in a press release.

“While some anticipated the news with our decrease in 737 flying, it is still shocking when it finally becomes a reality,” said Canadian North Master Executive Council chair First Officer Steven Bard in a statement. “Our goal is to support our pilots when they return to a Canadian North flight deck or another carrier.”

The layoffs follow a recent reduction in Canadian North’s flying operations due to the wind-down of the liquified natural gas (LNG) Phase I project and the transfer of flying on the Montreal to Kuujjuaq route to Air Inuit by the previous ownership group, Makivvik Corp.

“The responsibility of growing Canadian North’s business strategy and pilot retention rests on the Company,” First Officer Bard continued. “As we continue our contract negotiations, we need to focus on ensuring that pilots see Canadian North as a career destination. The specialized technical skillset required to operate safely across the rugged terrain and challenging weather conditions of the Canadian Arctic will be difficult to replace.”

The approximately 240 pilots of Canadian North are currently negotiating their seventh collective agreement.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.