Major Canadian airline prepares for big lay offs amid financial turbulence

Transat A.T. Inc., the parent company of Air Transat, is preparing to lay off up to 80 workers as the tour operator struggles to improve its finances.

A preliminary notice has been sent to the Quebec government.

Over the year, the company has felt the headwinds of stiff competition, engine recalls and the threat of a union strike, which conspired to drain more money from the struggling outfit.

Quebec labour rules require some companies to submit potential layoff figures for provincially regulated jobs, even if the cuts never occur.

In a notice to the province’s employment department, Transat says the layoffs could be effective by Nov. 1 but would not apply to pilots, flight attendants or other federally regulated roles.

In its first three quarters, Transat reported a combined net loss of 155-million-dollars.

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The Canadian Press