Jazz Aviation flight attendants ratify 10-year labour agreement

An Air Canada Jazz De Havilland DHC-8 takes off at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., in this file photo taken on May 30, 2011. (Darryl Dyck/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

HALIFAX - Flight attendants at Jazz Aviation have ratified a 10-year agreement with the airline, which is the largest regional carrier for Air Canada (TSX:AC).

The subsidiary of Chorus Aviation (TSX:CHR.B) said the contract with about 820 flight attendants is consistent with its new capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada announced in January.

It provides long-term labour stability, productivity enhancements and a movement to competitive labour costs.

Canadian Flight Attendant Union president Trevor Beattie said the deal, which expires Dec. 31, 2025, makes Jazz more cost competitive with other regional carriers, including WestJet Encore and those operating under Air Canada's regional Express brand.

Among other things, the union has agreed to a new entry level wage.

Existing flight attendants will receive two per cent annual wage increases through the life of the contract.

Beattie said there are also benefit improvements and more scheduling flexibility.

The new contract follows 11-year contract deals this year with Jazz pilots and dispatchers.

With its fleet of 120 aircraft, Jazz operates scheduled passenger service on behalf of Canada's largest airline, with about 800 weekday departures to 55 destinations in Canada and 19 in the United States.