Citing safety concerns, Air Canada will no longer book its pilots and flight crews into downtown Winnipeg hotels.
"In this instance, we are acting out of an abundance of caution after conducting a security assessment with both local law enforcement officials in Winnipeg and our own security people," explained Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick in an email to CTV News.
"As a result, we will be using a different accommodation for crew layovers in Winnipeg on an interim basis," he said, adding: "The safety and well-being of passengers and crew are always a top priority at Air Canada."
He would not comment further on the decision.
Winnipeg's homicide rate now sits at 32 after a shooting on Monday left a 20-year-old man dead.
The city's record for homicides was in 2004 when 34 people were murdered.
A news report out of Winnipeg said pilots and flight crews will now stay at an airport hotel instead of the Radisson hotel on Portage Ave., a few blocks from Main St. and the heart of downtown.
The Winnipeg Sun story said a bulletin sent to Air Canada employees stated: "Instances of public intoxication, resulting in several downtown locations being susceptible to crimes of violence and opportunity, have been observed by local police."
It added: "Based on concern generated by crew reports, corporate security, and keeping in mind our obligation, to the extent possible, for ensuring the safety of layover locations, a decision has been made to relocate."
Sam Katz, Winnipeg's mayor, told The Canadian Press that Air Canada and the city's police force have been doing a security assessment but it isn't complete yet.
He said that he's been told by Air Canada's pilots' union that its members don't support the move away from the downtown hotels and he wonders whether it's a decision based on saving money.
Winnipeg sits third for homicides in Canada, behind Edmonton's 39 and Toronto's 35 in 2011.
