Sunwing Flight Attendants Speak Out Against Quebec City Base Closure
The flight attendants of Sunwing Airlines, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, are making their voices heard against WestJet’s controversial decision to shut down the airline’s crew base in Quebec City. This move comes in the wake of WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing in 2024, a merger that promised efficiency and growth but is now raising concerns among workers who fear job losses, relocation, and disruption to their lives and the quality of service for francophone passengers.
On March 17, members of CUPE 8125 stood in solidarity with Sunwing pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), at a press conference in Quebec City. Their message was clear: WestJet must reconsider its decision to close the base and instead preserve the workforce and the essential services they provide to the local community. Flight attendants and pilots took to the stage to express their frustrations, fears, and concerns, urging WestJet to respect the history and success of Sunwing’s operations in Quebec City.
A Difficult Choice for Dedicated Workers
For many Sunwing employees, the closure of the Quebec City base presents an impossible dilemma. Dominique Côté, a flight attendant with 18 years of experience at Sunwing, spoke candidly about the stark choices facing her and her colleagues.
“We are being forced to make a life-changing decision: either uproot our families and relocate more than 300 kilometers away, endure a grueling three-hour commute each way without pay, or leave the jobs we have dedicated years of our lives to,” said Côté.
For some workers, moving to another city is not an option. Family responsibilities, homeownership, and community ties mean that relocating is simply not feasible. Others, particularly those with young children or aging parents, cannot afford to spend hours commuting to and from work. For many, resigning is not just about losing a paycheck—it’s about walking away from a career they are passionate about, one that they have invested years into building.
The closure of the base affects more than just the flight attendants themselves; it disrupts their families, removes job opportunities from the region, and weakens Quebec City’s aviation sector. The sudden displacement of dozens of highly trained aviation professionals raises serious concerns about workforce stability and job security within the airline industry.
Impact on Quebec’s Francophone Community
Beyond the personal struggles of employees, CUPE and ALPA argue that the base closure will also have a negative impact on Quebec City and its surrounding communities. Sunwing’s Quebec City base has long provided essential language support for the majority-francophone population that travels through the airport. Flight attendants who are fluent in French play a crucial role in ensuring that passengers receive clear, comprehensible instructions during flights.
Côté emphasized that having a French-speaking crew fosters respect, trust, and safety among passengers.
“Our passengers deserve to understand, and they deserve to be understood,” she stated. “The fact that we can address our passengers in French helps foster respect. Passengers trust us, so they’re more inclined to respect the guidelines, almost like they’re part of the family.”
For many Quebec travelers, boarding a flight with French-speaking crew members is more than just a convenience—it’s a necessity. Older passengers and those who are not proficient in English may struggle to communicate in an emergency situation. In the aviation industry, clear communication is not just a customer service issue; it is a matter of safety.
By eliminating the Quebec City base, WestJet risks diminishing the quality of service for francophone travelers. While the airline may still have some bilingual flight attendants, the overall number of French-speaking crew members will be reduced, making it harder to ensure that every flight serving Quebec City has adequate language support.
Safety and Compliance: The Hidden Consequence
Flight attendants also argue that the base closure could have a direct impact on passenger safety. According to Côté, flights operated out of Quebec City have an exceptionally low incidence of non-compliance on board. When passengers feel comfortable with the crew and understand the instructions being given, they are more likely to follow safety protocols without resistance.
“The statistics don’t lie,” Côté said. “Incidences of non-compliance on board are virtually non-existent on flights operated from Quebec City. We firmly believe that the bond between crew and passengers plays a role in making it that way.”
The closure of the Quebec City base could disrupt this dynamic. Without a dedicated pool of locally based flight attendants, the airline may need to staff flights with crew members who are less familiar with the specific needs of Quebec passengers. This could lead to an increase in misunderstandings, non-compliance, and, ultimately, a less safe flying environment.
A Call for WestJet to Reverse Course
CUPE and ALPA are calling on WestJet to reverse its decision and recognize the value that Sunwing’s Quebec City base has brought to the airline and its passengers. They argue that closing the base is not just an operational change but a decision that undermines the strong relationship that Sunwing has built with Quebec’s traveling public over the years.
Union representatives stress that Sunwing’s presence in Quebec City has been a long-term success story, and dismantling that success for the sake of corporate consolidation is a short-sighted move. Instead of shutting down the base, CUPE and ALPA urge WestJet to invest in Quebec City, strengthening its commitment to the region and ensuring that the airline continues to provide high-quality service to its francophone customers.
The unions also highlight that maintaining a crew base in Quebec City aligns with WestJet’s broader business goals. By keeping local crew members in place, the airline can preserve passenger trust, maintain safety standards, and demonstrate its commitment to serving all regions of Canada equally.
“WestJet has an opportunity here to do the right thing,” said an ALPA spokesperson at the press conference. “They can choose to respect the workforce that has made Sunwing a success in Quebec City, or they can disregard the needs of both employees and passengers in favor of cost-cutting. We hope they choose wisely.”
Broader Implications for Canadian Aviation
The controversy surrounding the closure of the Quebec City base is emblematic of broader challenges in Canada’s aviation industry. As airlines continue to consolidate, workers fear that job security and regional service quality will be sacrificed in the pursuit of corporate efficiency. The Sunwing merger was intended to enhance service and expand opportunities, but for many employees, it now represents instability and uncertainty.
WestJet’s decision also raises questions about the airline’s commitment to bilingualism and regional representation in Canada’s aviation landscape. If airlines begin centralizing their operations in a few major cities, it could reduce opportunities for workers outside of these hubs and limit service accessibility for passengers in smaller markets.
For now, CUPE 8125 and ALPA remain determined to fight the closure of the Quebec City base. They are urging WestJet to listen to the concerns of employees, reconsider the impact on francophone passengers, and recognize the importance of maintaining a strong aviation workforce in the region.
“Quebec City deserves better,” Côté concluded. “We are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—we are dedicated professionals who have spent years building something valuable. WestJet must recognize that and act accordingly.”