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Air Canada seeking ways to trim costs

Sept. 22, 2011, Montreal – Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu says the airline still has work to do to achieve its total cost objectives following contract deals with customer service agents and flight attendants.


September 22, 2011  By Wings Magazine

Sept. 22, 2011, Montreal – Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu says the
airline still has work to do to achieve its total cost objectives
following contract deals with customer service agents and flight
attendants.

While refusing to provide details of the tentative agreement
reached Tuesday with flight attendants, he said the carrier will
have to make the best of what it achieved in the negotiations.

That may mean pursuing "alternative strategies" to achieve its
full cost targets for sustainable profitability.

Jeff Taylor, president of the union representing flight
attendants, said it achieved 80 per cent of what its members were
seeking during the talks.

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Rovinescu declined to say how much Air Canada felt it won in the
process that averted a strike, but said both labour groups ended up
achieving the improvements they were looking for.

The airline boss said he hopes the progress made over the last 2
1/2 years on customer service won't be undermined as the carrier
moves beyond the difficult labour negotiating phase.

No dates have yet been established for talks with pilots,
machinists or dispatchers. Negotiations have dragged on longer than
expected and Rovinescu says he hopes to have all deals signed before
next summer.

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