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But Air Canada quietly announced last year it was winding up the “capacity purchase agreement (CPA)” and transferring the work to Jazz Aviation, though the accord was later extended by a few months.

Both companies denied at the time that the decision had anything to do with concerns about safety and maintenance at Georgian, first reported by the National Post.

Most passengers likely did not even notice the change — completed Jan. 31 — given the planes, their crews’ uniforms and tickets all bore Air Canada branding.

Georgian said last year Air Canada’s decision would not have a large impact on its viability, telling the Post “we are very well-positioned in the marketplace, with a 25-year track record of superior safety, operational, and financial performance.”

Photo by Peter J. Thompson/National Post files

As word emerged in early in 2019 that the contract with Air Canada was ending, the company and pilots’ union assured crew members they would be provided work elsewhere.

Pilots would be absorbed by Jazz, said the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and Georgian said the flight attendants it rendered surplus would get positions at Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge.

“I want to assure everyone that your job as a flight attendant is secure,” said Julie Mailhot, then the chief operating officer, in a note to employees on Jan. 25, 2019, a copy of which was obtained by the National Post.

But more than 40 of those flight attendants have received layoff notices in recent weeks, while the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents them, said it received confirmation of the bankruptcy filing only when notified by the Post Thursday.