Canada’s WestJet to cut 3,300 jobs as pandemic cuts demand for travel

CANADIAN carrier WestJet today said it would lay off about 3,300 employees, as it looks to save costs amid the economic turmoil stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has severely hurt air travel.

WestJet, owned by private equity firm Onex Corp, said it will consolidate all call centre activity to Alberta and outsource operations in all domestic airports except Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto, as part of the restructuring.

“Today’s announcement regarding these strategic but unavoidable changes will allow us to provide security to our remaining 10,000 WestJetters,” CEO Ed Sims said in a statement. – June 25, 2020, Reuters

Subscribe and get top news delivered to your Inbox everyday for FREE