Republished September 26, 2020 - 9:41 AM
Original Publication Date September 25, 2020 - 2:16 PM
HALIFAX - Air traffic control company Nav Canada is closing its Halifax flight information centre as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to squeeze the global airline industry.
Nav Canada announced this week it was making the move to streamline its operations as the company tries to adapt to lower levels of air traffic.
The president and CEO of the company, Neil Wilson, said in a statement Nav Canada is in the toughest moment in its history because of the economic downturn caused by the global pandemic.
The private, non-profit company had more than five thousand employees across the country before the pandemic but has since cut 14 per cent of its workforce — more than 720 people.
Nav Canada has also announced it is closing its flight information centre in Winnipeg.
The company says air traffic services will not be affected by the changes as its remaining flight information centres will provide necessary information to pilots and dispatchers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2020.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Nav Canada was closing its operations in Halifax and Winnipeg. It is the flight information centres that are closing.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2020