Canada's Air Transat adds six A321s, ends B737-700 ops

Canada's Chrono Jet adds first B737NG

Chrono Jet (MBK, Québec) took delivery of its first B737-800 in the form of C-FMBO (msn 30631), although the 19.3-year-old narrowbody has yet to be ferried to Canada.

The aircraft was last operated by Air Transat (TS, Montréal Trudeau) through March 2020, at that time under a dry-lease from Carlyle Aviation Partners. It was retired as the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit North America. Following a period of storage at Montréal Trudeau and Toronto Pearson, Air Transat ferried it for storage in Marana on September 24, 2020, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It remains at the American airport for the time being, although it was registered in Canada on April 13, 2021.

Chrono Jet, a passenger charter specialist, operates two B737-200s, one B737-200(C), and one Dash 8-100. Its parent Chrono Aviation (NDL, Québec) operates the group's smaller aircraft, including eight PC-12s, two Beech 1900Ds, and a single Beech (twin turboprop) King Air 300.

Air Transat, which operated twenty...

Investors eye Canada's Air Transat says gov't

Canada's WestJet lays off another 415 pilots

The Airline Pilots Association of Canada has strongly criticised Ottawa for procrastinating in responding to the COVID-19 crisis in Canadian aviation after WestJet (WS, Calgary) laid off another 415 pilots on April 1, 2021, while uncertainty continues at other major carriers, including Air Transat (TS, Montréal Trudeau).

“Unfortunately, the government continues in its failure to respond adequately to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on Canada's aviation sector. As the government continues to procrastinate, the industry grows more vulnerable with every passing day, and jobs continue to disappear,” charged Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) Canada, who was amongst those laid-off at WestJet.

“Almost 10,000 WestJet careers remain in limbo, with only 4,800 employees remaining on staff, compared to the 14,000 employed just 12 months ago,” he said.

In addition, the employment status of nearly 5,000 highly skilled workers at Air Transat remained unknown. “In addition to failing to mitigate the fallout from the pandemic, our government spent 18 months deliberating over the pending sale of this airline...

Air Transat mulls options after EC thwarts Air Canada tie-up

Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau) has abandoned plans to acquire Air Transat (TS, Montréal Trudeau), after efforts to secure antitrust consent from the European Commission (EC) failed.

In a joint statement, the two Canadian carriers said they had mutually agreed to terminate plans for Air Canada to acquire the airline's parent Transat Inc., initially announced in June 2019 and then revised in October 2020 as a result of the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, after the EC rejected Air Canada's enhanced package of remedies aimed at placating European competition concerns.

"Following recent discussions with the EC, it has become evident, however, that the EC will not approve the acquisition based on the currently offered remedy package," Air Canada said in a statement.

"After careful consideration, Air Canada has concluded that providing additional, onerous remedies, which may still not secure an EC approval, would significantly compromise Air Canada's ability to compete internationally, negatively impacting customers, other stakeholders and future prospects as it recovers and rebuilds from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic....