As Air Canada celebrates the arrival of its much-anticipated Boeing 787 Dreamliner , the union that represents some of its employees is speaking out against the decision to outsource two jets and staff to a foreign airline because of manufacturing delays with the new planes.

A note from management sent to staff Friday outlined the company’s plans to replace flights to Madrid, Lima and Bogota with so-called “wet leases” — airplanes from EuroAtlantic Airways that come with foreign flight attendants and pilots — to make up for the delay in manufacturing Boeing 787 planes.

The company received its first of 37 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets on Sunday. Before it landed at Pearson International Airport around 3 p.m. Michel Cournoyer, president of CUPE’s airline division, said Friday’s memo cast a shadow over the jet’s arrival.

“This was such a slap in the face. We were so disappointed Friday, especially when we were planning to go to this event. The 787 for us is the future of Air Canada, we’ve been waiting for this aircraft for years,” said Cournoyer.

The planes are being purchased to replace the airline’s Boeing 767s. The new 251-seat aircraft will allow Air Canada to open up a route between Toronto and Tokyo’s Haneda airport starting in July. The initial delivery was delayed more than three years and the upcoming deliveries are delayed by approximately six weeks.

The company weighed several options before deciding to wet-lease planes, including diverting jets from its low-cost Rouge service and renting planes that could be staffed by Canadian crew members.

“We looked at using Rouge aircraft, but the Rouge aircraft are all full. There’s a big demand for where they’re going this summer, so we couldn’t use those. We also looked at using different airplanes with our own crews. Unfortunately that wouldn’t work either because there was nothing available. This really was the best option,” said Peter Fitzpatrick to a Star reporter at the landing event for the 787. “It is just a very short term thing. I think it’s only going to be six weeks for the summer.”

The note was sent by executive vice-president and chief operating officer Klaus Goersch to all flight attendants late Friday afternoon, according to the union. The Star obtained a copy of the email.

“This is not a decision we came to lightly but our first priority must be to our customers who have placed their faith in us to get them reliably and safely to the destinations of their choice,” reads the memo.

The union is currently exploring options with its legal team to fight the move. Cournoyer said the decision to outsource the operations of two aircraft sets a “dangerous precedent” for the future.

“It’s a shame that Air Canada, our national carrier, is outsourcing to foreign workers. Jobs should rightfully belong to Canadians. Now it’s a very slippery slope. What’s going to happen in the future?” said Cournoyer.

Correction - May 20, 2014: This article has been edited to correct a previous version that reported Air Canada was outsourcing its operations of Boeing 787 aircraft. Air Canada is not outsourcing any operations of Boeing 787 aircraft, but is leasing two Boeing 767 with staff to fly three routes for approximately six weeks. The story also erroneously reported that these routes were scheduled to be flown by Boeing 787 aircraft.

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