Sunwing pilots urge WestJet to reverse planned closure of Quebec City base

The pilots’ union for Canadian vacation specialist Sunwing Airlines is calling on parent WestJet Group to reconsider its planned closure of Sunwing’s base at Quebec City Jean Lesage International airport. The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) said on 17 March that closing Sunwing’s base in Quebec City would cause “severe economic and cultural” impacts in the region. “WestJet purchased Sunwing with the intention of expanding services in eastern Canada and increasing vacation offerings from regional hubs,” says Mark Taylor, chair of the Sunwing ALPA master executive council. “Closing or relocating the YQB base undermines this corporate strategy and the company’s own stated goals.” Taylor asserts that abandoning the base in Quebec’s capital city would damage WestJet’s reputation among the francophone community, as well as reduce its ability to respond to operational uncertainties. “Having local crews means quicker responses in cases of mechanical issues, crew illness or staffing shortage problems, which is beneficial for the airline,” he says. In May 2023, WestJet closed a deal to acquire Sunwing and its vacations business, subsequently indicating plans to close Sunwing’s base in Quebec City and transfer displaced pilots to Montreal. A firm date for the base’s closure has not been set but WestJet has indicated that its outpost at Quebec City will cease operating sometime this spring, according to ALPA. “We recognise that Sunwing has a long-standing presence and commitment in the province of Quebec, and we can confirm that the province remains an integral strategic pillar for the WestJet Group,” WestJet tells FlightGlobal. <br/>