This is so not safe!!!!!
Although the following article is about Air Canada Jazz removing life jackets, other carriers such as Porter Air also have the option of carrying or not carrying life jackets - it is at their own discretion. However, it is a big deal for Air Canada as they have never been one to remove a safety device, especially on the basis of cost.
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Air Jazz removes life vests from flights, critics call it 'over zealous cost-cutting'
Arielle Godbout , Canwest News ServicePublished: Monday, August 25, 2008
OTTAWA - An Air Canada regional affiliate has dumped life vests from its aircraft as a cost-cutting measure, a move critics say is going too far for the sake of saving money.
"The reason for making the decision was to remove duplication aboard our aircraft because, of course, with the high cost of fuel, we're looking at everything," said Air Canada Jazz spokeswoman Manon Stuart. "On board Jazz aircraft we used to carry both the flotation device, which is the seat cushion, as well as life vests."
In case of an emergency over water, passengers will now rely solely on the flotation device (their seat!). The airline will also carry infant life vests on all aircraft.
In case of an emergency over water, Air Jazz passengers will now rely solely on the flotation device. The airline will also carry infant life vests on all aircraft.
Darren Stone/Victoria Times Colonist
Transport Canada regulations require an aircraft travelling beyond 50 nautical miles - about 90 kilometres - from shore to carry a life preserver for each person on board. If the aircraft is within that distance from the shore, there is the option for airlines to use either a flotation device or the live vests.
Jazz had to adjust its routes only minimally to ensure all flight stayed within the appropriate distance from shore, Stuart added.
"We operate over 880 flights everyday through 85 destinations throughout North America. We had to adjust only two routes out of all of our entire network," she said.
Transport Canada spokeswoman Maryse Durette said the change has been approved by the department.
"What Jazz used to offer, which was the life preserver on top of the flotation device, was extra," said Durette.
But critics suggest the decision is a case of over zealous cost-cutting.
"To say the passengers are first is I think a bit of a misnomer," said Woodrow French, the mayor of Conception Bay South, N.L, who has been advocating for an airline passenger bill of rights along with Liberal MP Gerry Byrne.
"I think in this decision that's been made by Jazz, passengers are a distant second to profits," added French. He said it doesn't make sense to remove safety equipment from an aircraft.
"If you've got five fire extinguishers aboard the aircraft, are you going to take two off because Transport Canada says you only need three?" he asked.
The move also drew criticism from Michael Janigan, the executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a consumer interest group.
He said airlines have been reducing costs related to passenger comfort - for example, charging for blankets, headphones and extra baggage - but it goes beyond that now.
"It's clear that they've turned their attention to expenses that are not simply . . . applicable to the comfort of their passengers," he said. "This is now in the area of air passenger safety itself."
