Summary
- A politician made a 52-second campaign-style speech on a WestJet flight, resulting in disagreement between the airline’s union and the politician who called it a stance against free speech.
- The airline’s cabin crew union is unhappy with the airline allowing a politician to make use of the PA system, and calls for each the airline and the politician to apologize to the crew.
- The politician fires back, accusing the union of attempting to silence freedom of speech, while the airline’s CEO defends the choice but plans to review the policy. Public opinions on the problem are divided.
How would you’re feeling if a politician used the airline’s PA system to make a political speech? One such occurrence took place aboard a WestJet flight flying from Quebec City to Calgary. Despite the aircraft being primarily stuffed with supporters, the airline’s union representing cabin crew is not too pleased. The politician calls this response from the union a stance against free speech.
Politics and air travel
The event in query took place on the evening of Sunday, September tenth, onboard a WestJet flight flying from Quebec City to Calgary. Onboard was the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre.
Sometime through the service, Poilievre headed to the front of the cabin and made a 52-second campaign-style speech. Along with asking passengers, “Who’s ready for a house you may afford?” and “Who’s ready for common sense?” the politician thanked the flight’s pilots and crew before finally giving an aviation-themed metaphor in regards to the state of Canada:
“That is your captain warning – a little bit little bit of turbulence, but it would only last about two years…at which era we’ll have a very recent crew and pilot in command of the plane. We’ll pierce through the storm and safely land in our home country we all know and love. Your house. My home. Our home. Let’s bring it home!”
WestJet cabin crew union unhappy
Despite a WestJet spokesperson telling the media that the politician’s use of the PA system was approved ahead of time, a spokesperson for the union representing the airline’s cabin crew said that it was “very disappointing” that the airline allowed a politician to make use of the system.
Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock
The airline noted that, although the usage of the PA system was pre-approved, the ultimate decision rested with the crew operating the flight. As per the CBC, Alia Hussain, president of the union, said in a media statement that it was
The union spokesperson then called on each WestJet and Poilievre to apologize to the crew.
Politician fires back at airline union
In response to the decision for an apology, Poilievre accused the union of “attempting to silence freedom of speech.” Several days after the speech, the politician told the media that he had no plans to apologize, saying:
“I believe that the union should apologize for attempting to silence freedom of speech…People on the plane were just delighted with my common sense remarks.”
Drawn into the conflict, the airline’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, said the situation was not “unusal” but added that the corporate has plans to review the policy that allowed the politician to make use of the cabin announcement system in the primary place. Von Hoensbroech highlighted on social media that the airline’s actions didn’t equate to a political endorsement:
While the flight can have been largely stuffed with the politician’s supporters headed to the Conservative party’s convention, it was also a business service bookable by most of the people.
The general public appears to be divided. Many have defended the move, highlighting that politicians from opposing parties have done the identical aboard Canadian trains. With the passengers being stuck in an aircraft cabin, others have the position that nobody needs to be forced to take heed to political speech over the PA system.
But where do you stand on this issue? Particularly if it was a politician who didn’t represent your views? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment!