Air Canada suspends more than 800 unvaccinated workers under new federal rules

Air Canada has suspended more than 800 employees for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in line with federal rules. The vast majority of Air Canada's 27,000 cabin crew, customer service agents and others have received both shots, CE Michael Rousseau said Tuesday. “Our employees have done their part, with now over 96% fully vaccinated. The employees who are not vaccinated or do not have a medical or other permitted exemption have been put on unpaid leave,” he said on a conference call with investors. The layoffs are “across the company” rather than concentrated in any particular job, spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email. The proportions align with those at WestJet, where fewer than four per cent of workers - less than 300 out of 7,300 - are unvaccinated, the company said in an email. PM Justin Trudeau announced last month that as of Oct. 30, Ottawa would require federally regulated air, rail and shipping companies to establish mandatory vaccination policies for employees. Air Canada sees hope on the horizon as revenues soared over 2020 levels last quarter amid stronger sales for winter, despite continuing to operate far below pre-pandemic capacity and at a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. Domestic leisure bookings have bounced back, prompting a recall of more than 10,000 laid-off employees since the start of the year - 6,500 of them since July. But business travel remains down across the board due in part to the persistence of remote work, executives said Tuesday.<br/>