WestJet to Change Passenger to Flight Attendant Ratio to 50 to 1

Canadian airline, WestJet Airlines Ltd has been granted permission to change its current rules so that it can raise the number of passengers per flight attendant. WestJet flight attendants will soon be able to serve 50 passengers at a time instead of 40.

WestJet, Canada's second-largest carrier, is implementing the change to meet international standards as most airlines operate with 50 passengers per flight attendant.

"We are pleased that Transport Canada has granted this exemption," said Gregg Saretsky , WestJet President and CEO in a release. "One flight attendant for every 50 seats is the accepted international practice and has been in place for decades around the world. This exemption will place us on a level regulatory playing field with U.S. and international carriers who fly in and out of Canada every day under these rules."

The airline also hopes that the change will save them money as it will cut costs once it is applied across the network.

"We anticipate cost savings once this exemption has been operationalized across our network," continued Gregg Saretsky . "These savings will allow us to grow our network and continue to provide low fares for the Canadian traveller. We will now work with our operations teams to determine when we can implement these changes which will in turn determine when these savings will be realized."

However even though the airline will be cutting costs, they insist that no flight attendants will be let go.

"WestJet has committed that it will not lay off any flight attendants under this new exemption," commented Antonio Faiola , WestJet Flight Attendant and Chair of PACT, WestJet's employee association in a release. "Our history speaks for itself: WestJet has always worked with its employees when our business changes and this is another example of its commitment to its people."

Transport Canada has allowed the change to take place immediately.

Saretsky says that even with the change, safety is still an important concern.

"Safety is a core value at WestJet and we commend the government for recognizing that there is a consistent level of safety operating under this ratio," Saretsky said.