Canada’s flag carrier, widening routes as aviation landscape shifts
WestJet flight attendants have ended their strike after CUPE 8125 and the airline have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes more pre‑ and post‑flight work and raises pay. The deal will go to a ratification vote; WestJet cancelled hundreds of flights and said about 250,000 travellers were affected over the long weekend.
Air-traffic staffing shortages and shifting practices are drawing scrutiny after multiple near-misses and a high-traffic incident near key U.S. airports. Officials warn of ongoing risks as delays and safety protocols come under review.
Bloomberg reports several airline moves: American Airlines is adding Philadelphia, New York, Charlotte and Chicago routes to European cities and Japan, while JFK-Tel Aviv and Newark-Luxembourg/Marseille services are expanding. These updates reflect broader network growth from major carriers.
The FAA has moved to fire air-traffic controllers tied to an early shift on the night of a deadly collision, while preliminary NTSB findings detail persistent communication gaps during Marine One departures. The incidents, tied to August events near Reagan National and LaGuardia, underscore ongoing safety concerns and subsequent policy responses.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block Canadian manufacturer Bombardier from selling aircraft in the United States as Ottawa and Washington have exchanged tariffs on roughly $20–28 billion of goods. Canada has imposed retaliatory levies of 15–50%, and Bombardier has said it employs thousands in the US and sources components from 47 states.
The United States has imposed an import ban on a subset of Canadian goods, part of a broader tariff-driven confrontation. Canada retaliates with matching levies, keeping two-way trade worth about $880 billion annually. Economists say the impact will be modest, but tensions will persist.