A surge in summer travel across Canada has forced the country’s two biggest airlines to ask staff to volunteer at airports to overcome staffing challenges—a move that is creating pushback from unions.
In an email to employees, WestJet described how the “growing pains of recovery” are causing operational problems at several airports and made an open call for staff members to sign up to volunteer to help guests requiring wheelchair assistance at Calgary International Airport.
Meanwhile, an internal memo from Air Canada highlighted the need for extra personnel as “airport partners are stretched beyond their capacity, which led to significant flight cancellations and missed connections.”
In late August and early September, air passenger traffic reached its highest point since the pandemic began.
In the U.S., American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also asked staff to volunteer at airports this summer.
