The union representing WestJet pilots has asked a judge to quash federal approval of temporary foreign workers in the cockpit, despite a global flight crew shortage. In an application it said was filed Monday, the Air Line Pilots Association petitioned the Federal Court to declare invalid a government decision allowing temporary work permits at regional subsidiary WestJet Encore earlier this month. The airline requested about 60 permits for pilots from India and South Africa under the temporary foreign workers program, according to the filing. Tim Perry, who heads the union’s Canadian wing, said it was not consulted and that the move could erode safety margins and undercut wage gains. “Airlines that do a good job with attraction and retention do not need to turn to temporary foreign workers,” Perry said in a phone interview. “This application should never have been filed.” He also argued the government drew “improper conclusions” about the need for flight crews from overseas, and said consideration of WestJet’s request should have included discussion with the union. WestJet said it asked the government to assess whether temporary foreign workers are needed, a requisite step before hiring from abroad can take place. The request was made via a so-called labour market impact assessment (LMIA), which also determines if “no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job,” according to the Immigration Department website. “WestJet Encore has not yet hired any pilots through the LMIA process,” airline spokeswoman Julia Kaiser said in an email. The temporary foreign worker program, which allows non-permanent residents to work in Canada for limited periods, employs hundreds of thousands of people across a wide range of industries.<br/>
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WestJet has cancelled two direct routes from Alberta to the U.S. due to what the airline says is a shift in bookings away from American destinations. The Calgary-based airline says planned seasonal service between Calgary International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport has been cancelled for the summer of 2025. WestJet has also suspended planned service between Edmonton and Orlando International Airport during the summer months. Impacted guests who planned to travel from YYC airport to LaGuardia have been made aware of the changes and are being given the option to fly into New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport instead, a WestJet spokesperson says. “WestJet has observed a shift in bookings from the U.S. toward other sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, and to transatlantic destinations,” reads a statement from spokesperson Josh Yeats. “It is common across the aviation industry to adjust schedules to service guest demand.”<br/>
AirAsia Aviation Group is undertaking a network “optimisation”, which will see it launch more than 30 new routes this year and tap into transit traffic opportunities. The move comes as the low-cost airline group – with units in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia – targets full capacity recovery this year, with a focus on “balancing growth with profitability”. AirAsia, which is in the process of being acquired by sister unit AirAsia X, says it will be focused on “enhancing cost leadership, optimising network and flight frequencies, and improving operational performance across key markets”. “These efforts aim to support growth in high-demand destinations such as India, China, and throughout Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” the group adds. In recent weeks, the group has announced a series of new routes, including flying to Darwin from Kuala Lumpur and Denpasar Bali. In the coming months, AirAsia also expects to raise frequencies across “high demand routes”. AirAsia executives on 25 March told local media that Central Asia would be another area of focus, given the operational success of its Kazakhstan flights. AirAsia commercial chief Amanda Woo is reported as saying that airline group is looking to launch flights to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. AirAsia is also looking to grow its share of transit traffic: according to group chief Bo Lingam, transit traffic increased in 2024, and the airline is targeting transit passengers to make up about 10% of its total traffic this year. <br/>