WestJet lays off 1,700 pilots

WestJet sent layoff notices to 1,700 pilots Wednesday night, as the economic fallout from COVID-19 continued. "1,700 pilots across WestJet, WestJet Encore and Swoop have received layoff notifications, effective either May 1 or June 1, 2020," said WestJet spokesperson Morgan Bell in an email to CTV News. "These notifications are in response to the COVID-19 global crisis that is shutting borders, encouraging only essential travel and forcing a dramatic reduction in flying that has led to the groun