WestJet cancellations continue after mechanics' strike ends, frustrating and confusing travellers
CBC
The surprise WestJet mechanics' strike has ended, but passengers are still facing cancellations and confusion this long Canada Day holiday weekend.
The Calgary-based airline said Monday the impact of the strike, which began ahead of the July 1 holiday, will continue in the coming days, meaning more cancellations before it can fully resume operations as usual.
Krrish Shah, who was visiting Toronto with family, said he was struggling to get back home to Calgary after he was notified of a flight cancellation at 2:30 a.m.
"It's just really difficult right now," he said. "My dad has work, my mom has work, I have work starting up. It says for the next three days nothing is available and we're really trying to figure something out."
Speaking at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Shah said he would likely have to fly back solo, separate from his family members and at increased prices, after receiving little help from the airline.
"Everyone's brains are going crazy right now. Everyone is confused."
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) decided to strike after federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration to solve outstanding collective agreement issues between WestJet and the union on Thursday.
The board still allowed for a strike.
WestJet said it had cancelled 1,078 flights across Canada as of 11 a.m. ET Monday, including 292 on Monday and 27 on Tuesday, affecting more than 100,000 passengers.
The airline has parked 130 of its 180 planes since the strike began Friday.
"We are grateful to be recovering our operation; however, we fully recognize the continued impact on our guests and sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding," Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and group chief operating officer, said in a statement.
"Across our airline, our teams are working around the clock to safely bring the 130 aircraft parked across Canada back to the skies, as efficiently as possible."
Its planes are parked at 13 airports across Canada, Eight of them don't have crew bases, meaning workers need to be transported to the planes. Parked planes will also require maintenance and safety checks before returning to service.
The airline advises passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving to the airport and pull up WestJet's Guest Updates page online for more information.
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