Proposed cut in flight crew ratio a safety risk, Canadian union says
Flight attendants are urging the Canadian government to abandon a proposal to reduce the number of flight crew required on duty on commercial airlines.
Current federal rules require one flight attendant present for every 40 passengers but Transport Canada wants to give commercial airlines the option of reducing this to one every 50 seats whether they are occupied or not.
Air crew union CUPE Airline Division is fighting the proposal, saying passenger safety will be compromised especially during an emergency evacuation.
"There was already no margin of error in an emergency situation with the actual ratio of one flight attendant per 40, and with a smaller crew to start with, imagine how things could turn if a flight attendant is injured in an evacuation," said CUPE president Michel Cournoyer.
Cournoyer believes if the rule is passed, some airplane exits could be left unmanned.
Cournoyer admitted emergency situations are rare, "but when it happens, you want to make sure that we have the full crew to save everybody’s life," he said.
Transport Canada carried out a risk assessment back in 2002 and the new proposals would bring Canada in line with other foreign aviation requirements.
Foreign carriers who fly to Canada are exempt from the current 1:40 rule.
"I am comfortable with this safety aspect of moving to a standard that is already in place in the US and in Europe," said transport minister Lisa Raitt who is pushing for the rule change.
"As more and more airlines requested the same exemption, I took the decision to ensure that we went through a regulatory process," Raitt said.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports