Incoming Air Canada CEO's current airline engaged in 'anti-labour' behaviour, says Canadian union head

Anko van der Werff will soon leave his role as president and CEO of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) to take on the same position at Air Canada by the end of January.

Last month, Scandinavian Airlines Captain Mattias Åman Thiel — who also is the chair of the SAS section of the Swedish Pilots' Association — was fired.

The airline confirmed the dismissal to Radio-Canada but did not provide the reason why it took that measure.

The union, as well as the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations — representing over 160,000 pilots worldwide — has called for Thiel's reinstatement.

The president of ALPA Canada, which represents pilots at major and regional Canadian airlines, called the dismissal "unwarranted" in a letter to van der Werff obtained by Radio-Canada.

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