CHAT News file photo

By The Canadian Press

Unfriendly skies

WestJet announces layoffs for nearly 50% of staff due to COVID-19, Air Canada reduces pilots

Mar 24, 2020 | 4:53 PM

WestJet Airlines says roughly half of its 14,000 employees will leave the company — some temporarily — due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 6,900 departures comprise early retirements, resignations and both voluntary and involuntary leaves after WestJet asked staff to choose one of those options or reduce their hours or pay, said CEO Ed Sims.

“This is devastating news for all WestJetters,” Sims said in a video statement Tuesday afternoon.

“The fact that we avoided a potentially worse outcome is testament to the spirit and selfless attitude demonstrated by our people, who have enabled WestJet to continue operating with a collective remaining workforce of 7,100.”

The first wave of departures is set for Wednesday and the second for April 1.

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In a Tuesday video announcement posted to YouTube, Sims said that 120 of the company’s aircraft had been grounded.

“We’re now operating at the same size we were back in 2003,” Sims said. “We simply do not have enough demand to support our workforce at our current numbers.”

The Calgary-based company has cancelled all international flights for 30 days and, like Air Canada, severely scaled back domestic capacity.

Captain Michael McKay, head of the Air Canada Pilots Association, said the union agreed to a plan late Monday for a maximum of 600 pilots on furlough.

The pilots have also agreed to reduced pay across the board and “simplified contract language” to allow them to retire earlier, he said.