Here's what Air Canada and WestJet have said about reducing flights
Two of Canada’s largest airlines announced steps to cope with delays, cancellations and service issues.
On Wednesday night, Air Canada said it would be making adjustments to flights over the next two months in order to address “customer service shortfalls.” And on Thursday, WestJet reaffirmed its taking a "very measured" strategy in order to maintain services this summer.
Here’s what the two airlines have announced.
AIR CANADA
Air Canada sent an email to customers on Wednesday night announcing a reduction in flights the airline will be offering in July and August.
In an emailed statement to CTV News Channel, an Air Canada spokesperson said the company will be reducing its schedule by an average of 154 flights per day for July and August. Before this, Air Canada said it was operating around 1,000 flights per day.
The company said the routes most affected are flights to and from hubs in Toronto and Montreal. Air Canada will be reducing the frequency of these flights over the summer, primarily affecting evening and late-night flights on the airline’s smaller aircraft.
Air Canada is also suspending three routes this summer. The spokesperson said the airline will temporarily suspend routes between Montreal and Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Kelowna, and Toronto and Fort McMurray.
International flights will remain mostly unaffected, except for timing changes that the spokesperson said would reduce flying at peak times and improve the flow of passengers to these destinations.
While Air Canada President Michael Rousseau acknowledged in the email to customers this will have a “negative impact” on some passengers, he said he hopes giving this notice will allow travellers to make other arrangements for their summer travel plans.
WESTJET
In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, WestJet said it would also be operating fewer flights in order to ensure the company “can deliver a stable operation.”
WestJet says it will be operating 25 per cent fewer flights this summer, dropping its services from an average of 700 flights per day to an average of 530 flights per day.
The statement from the airline also says the company is conducting “extensive planning” to ensure its flights are “all flying in peak performance.”
YOUR FINANCES
Old age security increase leaves out many seniors, non-profit says
The Canadian Association for Retired Persons is raising alarms about the increase in old age security only being made eligible for those 75 and above.
Rising cost of living taking toll on Canadians living off disability benefits
The rising cost of living is exacerbating the challenge for many Canadians living on fixed disability income to pay for food and housing.
Savings are slowly dripping away as deposit interest lags far behind inflation
The savings accounts of Canadians have sprung a leak. As inflation tops eight per cent, anyone with money in the bank is seeing their savings drip away at the fastest rate on record because interest rates for savings accounts, still largely languishing at around one per cent, haven't kept up.
Cost-of-living increases have Canadian parents worried about opportunities for their children
With inflation at a nearly 40-year high, Canadians are feeling the financial strain. In a six-part series this summer, people at different stages of their lives detail where they're being hit the hardest.
Buying vs. renting: Should the ultimate goal be to own real estate?
While there are many perks to owning a property, renting your home comes with benefits as well. So, how should you decide whether to buy or rent your home? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew breaks it down in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca.
After pandemic pivots, where have Canadian workers gone?
Restaurants, airlines, schools and nursing homes are at the sharp end of a labour crunch that's afflicted employers all year long. Others, grappling with burnout in precarious or stressful work environments, simply walked away. So if workers are leaving their jobs, where are they going?
Canadian economy avoids contraction in May, economists expect continued slowdown
The Canadian economy stayed flat in May, with growth slowing down as businesses continue to face supply constraints and rising interest rates, though economists say the current cycle of interest rate increases is expected to continue into the fall.
Rising food, rent costs eat into young professionals' disposable income
Groceries are putting a big strain on Canadian young professionals' pocketbooks, especially those who are out of the nest and paying rent.