If the constant labour disputes at Air Canada (the most recent being a week ago where pilots were locked out and mechanics and bag handlers were poised to strike) weren’t enough to make me reconsider moving all my flights to West Jet, this latest twist definitely will.

CBC reported that Aveos, a privately held company that has the contract to provide maintenance for Air Canada, had suddenly and without notice shut its doors (read the story here)

There’s something missing from the stories currently online though. Months ago, Air Canada gave their Winnipeg based maintenance staff an ultimatum – stay with Air Canada but be forced to relocate to a different city, or switch from Air Canada to Aveos and stay in Winnipeg.

So all of those staff that Air Canada pushed into Aveos just so they could stay in Winnipeg are now out of a job with huge uncertainty around their future.

Labour disputes that rise up continually and hamper personal travel and business, questionable timing of business decisions and the resulting impact on individuals…there’s too much drama in that company for me to rely on it for my travel needs. WestJet it is moving forward until Air Canada gets their act together – which probably means its WestJet for the foreseeable future.

D