By Skies Magazine | June 24, 2020 Estimated reading time 1 minute, 36 seconds.
WestJet has announced changes to its operations in an effort to streamline “a competitive future following the COVID-19 crisis,” according to the company.
In a move that will see 3,333 employees across Canada affected, the Calgary-based airline said it will be consolidating call centre activity, restructuring office and management staff, and outsourcing work at all airports except for in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.
“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,” said Ed Sims, WestJet president and chief executive officer, in a video statement. “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.”
This is just another step the airline has taken to mitigate damages from the COVID crisis; others have included a hiring freeze, suspended salary adjustments and executive salary cuts.
Since the outset of the pandemic in mid-March, the airline has seen its flight operations reduced by over 90 per cent year-over-year.
