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CanJet lays off nearly half its pilots, some flight attendants: unions

WATCH: CanJet announced it is laying of most of its staff. The airline has ceased its European operation, saying it’s simply not profitable. Ross Lord has the details.

HALIFAX – The union that represents pilots at CanJet Airlines says the Nova Scotia-based company plans to lay off almost half of its 100 pilots by May 6.

The Airline Pilots Association issued a statement saying it’s disappointed that 47 pilots will be let go by the charter airline, saying the union had worked for months with management to mitigate involuntary layoffs.

Company representatives in Enfield, N.S., could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Union of Public Employees has confirmed that 38 seasonal and nine permanent flight attendants have received layoff notices.

Audrey Tam, president of CUPE Local 4044, says the seasonal layoffs were expected, given the fact that the airline’s business slowed down when the winter flying season to vacation hot spots ended.

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A union spokesman says the nine layoffs of permanent staff stemmed from Transport Canada’s decision to allow the airline to change the minimum requirements for flight attendant staffing levels.

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