WestJet ramping up after reaching deal with pilots, but warns it will take time

The WestJet Group says it's ramping up operations as quickly as possible after reaching a last-minute deal with the airline's pilots to avert a strike.

WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative agreement to avoid the job action early Friday morning.

The airline had grounded the bulk of its fleet Thursday, including for its Swoop subsidiary, ahead of the strike deadline.

The shutdown affected dozens of routes within Canada and to the U.S. and overseas, while flights at the WestJet Encore regional service and the WestJet-owned Sunwing Airlines were unaffected.