Airline says it's exploring 'multiple avenues' to address shortage of pilots
By Jim Wilson
Mar 25, 2025
WestJet and the federal government are facing criticism over the airline’s application to hire pilots through the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.
According to the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the federal government has granted approval for WestJet to employ foreign pilots to work at WestJet Encore under the program.
“ALPA Canada is deeply concerned that WestJet Inc. is citing an inability to attract Canadian pilots to its airline as the rationale for hiring temporary foreign pilots to fill vacancies in their aircraft,” says Captain Tim Perry, president of the union.
The TFW Program allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary jobs when qualified Canadians are not available.
In a statement to CBC, WestJet spokesperson Julia Kaiser said that the airline is exploring the labour market impact assessment (LMIA) process as one of "multiple avenues" to meet a shortage of WestJet Encore captains.
However, Perry claims there is no lack of available talent. Rather, it’s about WestJet management’s failure “to address the very real issue of career progression and job security for pilots within the company”.
“Their request to hire foreign pilots is problematic and short-sighted and will cause irreparable damage to labour relations. There are more practical solutions to attracting and retaining skilled professional pilots that do...
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