Nicole Bursey Exits Transat Tours Canada Amid Consolidation

Canadian travel company Transat A.T. is consolidating its tour operations.  

Former Transat Tours Canada Commercial Director Nicole Bursey has left her position after almost 15 years with the Quebec-based company.

Spokesperson Bernard Côté confirmed with TMR that Bursey had vacated her position. 

“All of Transat’s Canadian tour operator commercial activities have been consolidated in an effort to simplify and streamline our sales activities,” said Côté. 

Julie Sareault will take over Bursey’s responsibilities. Formerly commercial director for Quebec, Sareault is now overseeing the company’s tour operator commercial efforts nationally.  

Côté did not comment on the possible impending layoffs.

Last week, The Canadian Press reported that Transat A.T. – the parent company of Air Transat and Transat Tours – was preparing to lay off up to 80 staff in a bid to improve its finances. In Quebec, companies must submit layoff figures to the government for any provincially regulated jobs, even if the potential job cuts are still under consideration. 

Transat spokesman Andrean Gagne told CP the layoff notification was simply a “precautionary measure.” 

Transat also clarified that the redundancies could occur by Nov. 1, but would not affect the federally regulated positions, such as pilots and cabin crews. 

Trouble at Transat

Transat has faced a challenging year, marked by strike threats, stiff competition, and engine recalls. Transat reported a combined net loss of $155.3 million (CAD) in its first three quarters – a significant increase from the $28.5 million net loss reported in the same period a year earlier.

Last month, Transat President and CEO Annick Guérard addressed the company’s third-quarter earnings. She pointed to the current economic climate and market pressure as contributing factors.

“Demand for leisure travel remains healthy, as evidenced by higher traffic, but consumers are increasingly price conscious given the current economic uncertainty,” said Guérard. 

The CEO outlined the company’s plan to review its corporate strategy and implement new tools, processes, and business practices to increase efficiency and profitability – dubbed the “Elevation Program.”

“Looking ahead, we are confident that the initiatives from our Elevation Program will gradually place us on the path to sustaining an improved financial performance,” explained Jean-François Pruneau, chief financial officer of Transat. “Nevertheless, it remains our top priority to complete a refinancing plan and strengthen our balance sheet. To that end, we are continuing our discussions with stakeholders and are reviewing a number of alternatives.”