Transat AT’s repositioning towards Montreal and Eastern Canada will result in the closure of Air Transat’s base at Vancouver Airport on June 30th, resulting in the elimination of 200 flight attendant positions. reported La Presse yesterday in its edition.

President and CEO Annick Guérard has been at the helm of the tour operator since June 2021 and has been working on the realignment of the tour operator. It’s more focused on eastern Canada – Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes – and on flights to the United States.

“We will continue to operate the same flight schedule for the time being, but our flights will be operated by our two main teams based in Montreal and Toronto, where we have a strong historical and commercial presence,” Transat said in a statement.

The letter notes that the decision was “very difficult to make, given the seniority and loyalty of Vancouver’s base staff.”

The affected employees can be transferred to Montreal or Toronto on a voluntary basis.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the vast majority of flight attendants in Canada, issued a statement in response to the news.

The union says it is “dismayed by the closure of the Air Transat base at Vancouver airport”.

“This very bad news is somewhat mitigated by the fact that these flight attendants have the opportunity to be reassigned to the Montreal and Toronto bases,” the union said.

CUPE adds that it “will work to negotiate with the employer a fair settlement for its members who lose their jobs,” as well as support, including relocation allowances, for those changing bases.

“Despite our understanding of the economic imperatives that forced Air Transat to make this unfortunate decision, the fact remains that for the most part our Vancouver members have given the company many decades of loyal service,” commented Dominic Levasseur, President of the Air Transat component of CUPE .

“Transat must live up to its responsibilities to its employees, whom it will lay off or relocate thousands of miles away. Our union will do everything to give them the best possible conditions.”