MONTREAL — ********** is temporarily laying off more than 5,100 flight attendants as it slashes capacity due to travel restrictions and border closures in the wake of the *********** ********.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says the carrier is laying off about 3,600 mainline employees and all of ********** Rouge’s 1,549 flight attendants.

The layoffs, effective immediately, will last at least through April, CUPE said. They will impact more than half of the *******’s 9,750 flight attendants.

********** said the layoffs are temporary and employees will return to active duty when the ******* is able to ramp up its flight capacity.

On March 18 ********** announced it will gradually suspend the majority of its international and U.S. flights by March 31.

Union members facing layoffs or off-duty status will be able to collect employment insurance and access benefits.