The union representing transportation workers at St. John’s International is speaking out about recent cuts to firefighting capability at the airport following an incident over the weekend.

The airport has decided to reduce the number of onsite firefighters to two, citing the reduction in traffic due to travel restrictions imposed as the result of the pandemic.

But the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees says Transport Canada requires airport firefighters to be ready at all times.

Atlantic Regional Vice President Chris Bussey says firefighting services at YYT are “barebones”—meaning firefighters are not able to do anything else, including acting as first responders in the case of a medical emergency on a flight.