WestJet’s New Age Policy Could Cost 44 Pilots Their Jobs

URGENT UPDATE: WestJet Airlines is poised to lay off 44 pilots by October 31, 2023, as the airline implements a controversial age-restricted flying policy. This decision will significantly impact senior pilots over the age of 65, who will be barred from operating specific flights, according to Capt. Bernie Lewall, chair of the WestJet Master Executive Council (MEC) at the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

The new policy, first communicated to pilots via email on July 3, is driven by “growing operational and regulatory complexities.” WestJet has cited regulations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that prevent pilots over 65 from flying in U.S. airspace. The move will not only affect these 44 pilots immediately but could potentially impact up to 200 more over the next five years.

“This decision by WestJet management will affect many of their long-term dedicated employees that helped build WestJet into the respected airline it is today,” Lewall stated. He emphasized that the airline should uphold its commitment to its workforce and comply with existing labor agreements and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

As tensions rise, WestJet is facing a formal grievance filed by the pilots’ union, which argues that this new policy violates labor agreements. An arbitrator based in Toronto has been appointed to hear the case. The MEC is also seeking an interim order to halt the policy’s implementation until arbitration concludes, urging WestJet management to maintain the current status quo.

WestJet’s policy change has ignited significant discussion within the aviation industry, particularly concerning age restrictions on pilots. While there is no mandated retirement age under Canada’s Aeronautics Act, international regulations pose challenges. A previous arbitration ruling involving Air Canada concluded that it was unreasonable to employ pilots over 65 without undue hardship, a precedent that adds weight to the current debate.

The issue is further complicated by WestJet’s recent decisions regarding its workforce. Earlier this year, the airline withdrew a contentious application to hire temporary foreign pilots for its regional carrier, WestJet Encore, after securing federal approval for 60 work permits for pilots from India and South Africa. However, this plan was abandoned due to “economic uncertainty.”

As WestJet continues to navigate these challenges, the urgency of retaining experienced Canadian pilots is paramount. The Air Line Pilots Association has been vocal about the risks of job losses through both policy changes and foreign recruitment.

WestJet has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the arbitration or whether it plans to delay the enforcement of the new policy. If the policy is upheld, the upcoming layoffs will mark one of the most significant single job losses for senior pilots in the airline’s history.

The situation is developing rapidly, and stakeholders are closely monitoring the outcome of the grievance process. The lives and careers of many experienced pilots hang in the balance as WestJet makes its next move.