Airlines cut Montreal call centre jobs
Last Updated: Thursday, November 26, 2009 | 3:28 PM ET
The Canadian Press
The transatlantic joint-venture comprised of Air France, KLM and Delta Airlines says it will close its Montreal call centre Aug. 31, cutting 280 jobs.
The jobs will be transferred to Delta’s call centres in Atlanta, Ga., which will be equipped with a team of 30 people to handle calls from Francophone customers.
Eighty-five per cent of the calls coming in to the Montreal call centre originate in the United States, said Air France’s Canadian general-manager Bénédicte Duval.
Maintaining a Francophone team in Montreal was not considered because call centres that are too small are inefficient, Duval said.
Workers affected by the cuts will be offered other opportunities, or will receive compensation and help finding a new job. Those who speak French will be offered a transfer to the Atlanta call centre.
The transatlantic alliance between the three airlines was forged in May. The three will share routes between Europe and North America.
