Porter to Close Crew Bases in Thunder Bay, Halifax

Porter Airlines will close its crew bases in both Thunder Bay and Halifax in May. The airline says the closures are due to changes in its network as a result of rapid growth.

In a statement to CBC News, Porter says the impacted crew bases were first established outside of Toronto “to provide greater operational flexibility.” 

“The current regional network has hubs in Toronto and Ottawa. After considering various scenarios, we found that consolidating crew bases in these two cities is the most effective way to organize crew and operate flights,” the statement added.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4061, which represents more than 1,200 cabin crew at Porter, says the decision will affect about 60 of its members across both cities. It will also impact some non-union employees.

“We’ve been deeply disappointed and saddened by this news. We know the flight attendants in Thunder Bay love their jobs and love the work they do, they love living where they live, and this news is really difficult for them and their families,” Sarah Seal, president of CUPE Local 4061 told CBC.

According to Seal, cabin crew must decide whether to commute to Toronto or Ottawa at their own cost, relocate, choose a voluntary layoff, or retire early.

“Our flight attendants are actually going to have to drive to the airport, hop on a flight if there’s a seat available for them, and fly across the country to get to work — and this is at their own cost,” Seal said.

“We know flight attendants currently experience a lot of unpaid time at work already, so we’re really noticing that this adds to the burden that they’re already experiencing during this difficult time,” she added.