News
TC to cut the number of on-board flight attendants?
May 22, 2014, Ottawa - Air transportation experts and stakeholders are meeting today in Ottawa to discuss the federal government's proposal to introduce a regulation that would allow airlines to reduce the number of on-board flight attendants.
May 22, 2014 By CBC News
Transport Canada safety experts will discuss the proposal when they
meet at the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council's day-long
conference in Ottawa.
Flight attendants and industry representatives will also get to make
their cases on the proposed ratio of one flight attendant for every 50
passenger seats. Current regulations require one flight attendant for
every 40 passengers.
CUPE Airline Division, the union that represents flight attendants, is against the changes.
"The new ratio of one flight attendant for every 50 passenger seats
proposed by Transport Canada will put Canadians at risk," it said in a
release.
It argues that fewer flight attendants means the adequate safety
level will be reduced, especially in an emergency evacuation situation.
Last May, WestJet received a government exemption from the 1:40 ratio
and was permitted to operate under 1:50, which is the international
standard.
Following WestJet's exemption, the government decided to examine
changing flight attendant requirements instead of just issuing
exemptions.
The proposal was first raised in 2002 at the request of the airline industry. In
2006, then Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that no changes
would be made as the department was still studying the issue.
