WestJet Deals with ‘Damage Control’ Following Strike: Essential Information for Passengers
Over 100,000 travelers have experienced significant disruptions to their flight plans as WestJet works to recover from a long weekend strike, warning that delays may continue for several days.
The Calgary-based airline confirmed in a Tuesday release that a total of 1,137 flights have been canceled before, during, and after the strike, during which WestJet maintenance engineers took to the picket line.
On Sunday night, a deal was reached between the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and WestJet, ending the 48-hour strike.
Despite the federal government’s intervention to impose binding arbitration ahead of the July long weekend, the Canada Industrial Relations Board allowed the strike to proceed. The agreement was reached without binding arbitration, according to Ian Evershed, an AMFA spokesperson, in a statement to Global News on Tuesday.
The strike caused chaos at Canadian airports, affecting thousands of passengers who had booked flights with WestJet at the beginning of the busy summer travel season.
The airline reported canceling 1,054 flights scheduled between Thursday and Monday. As of noon Eastern time on Tuesday, 75 flights had been canceled, with eight more already scratched for Wednesday.
With around 680 maintenance workers on strike over the weekend, WestJet grounded 130 jets at 13 airports. As of Tuesday, 125 aircraft out of WestJet’s 180-jet fleet were active.
In a statement on Monday, WestJet warned that it would take time to return to full operations.
Ian Evershed stated in an email Tuesday that AMFA members are not responsible for the delays. All maintenance engineers have reported back to work and are “doing everything they can to safely get the airline up and running,” he said.
