The safety of the travelling public depends on having an appropriate number of cabin crew trained in safety and security procedures, as demonstrated by Air France flight 358’s crash in Toronto Pearson on August 2nd 2005, when a full complement of cabin crew managed to evacuate all passengers safely from a burning aircraft in less than 90 seconds.
A history of aircraft accidents demonstrates that more flight attendants positioned at emergency exits improves every passenger’s chance of escaping and surviving in the event of an aircraft accident. Flight attendants also deal with other onboard threats and emergencies such as fires, hijacking, air rage, and medical situations, to name a few.
This is not the first time this issue has been debated. In 2001 Transport Canada refused to reduce aircraft cabin crew complement due to important safety concerns and public feedback. Now, under our current Conservative Government, Transport Canada chooses to prioritize corporate revenue over passenger safety by reducing cabin crew by up to 25% and adopting a 1 flight attendant to 50 seat ratio. This is fundamentally wrong, politically motivated, and very dangerous. Please voice your concerns by signing this important petition and speaking out for airline safety.