Air Canada has suspended more than 800 employees for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in line with new Canadian federal rules.
The airline says 96% of its employees are fully vaccinated, cabin crew, customer service agents and others have received both jabs, chief executive Michael Rousseau said on Tuesday.
“Our employees have done their part, with now over 96 per cent fully vaccinated,” he said on a conference call with investors.
“The employees who are not vaccinated or do not have a medical or other permitted exemption have been put on unpaid leave.”
The layoffs are “across the company” rather than concentrated in any particular job, spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.
The proportions align with those at WestJet Airlines, where fewer than four per cent of workers — fewer than 300 out of 7,300 — are unvaccinated, the company said in an email.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last month that as of Oct. 30, Ottawa would require federally regulated air, rail and shipping companies to establish mandatory vaccination policies for employees.
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