WestJet strike: dozens of flights canceled at YVR

Dozens of WestJet flights were cancelled at British Columbia airports Saturday after the airline’s mechanics union announced plans to strike Friday night.

WestJet’s online flight status tool showed 29 flights to Vancouver International Airport were cancelled Saturday morning, as were 28 other departures from YVR.

Other major airports in British Columbia were also affected, with Kelowna International Airport seeing eight canceled departures and eight arrivals, and Victoria International Airport, six and eight, respectively.

Smaller airports in Abbotsford, Comox, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George and Terrace also had at least one cancellation Saturday, according to WestJet.

The Calgary-based airline announced it was canceling more than 150 flights across its network due to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association strike, with more than 20,000 passengers expected to be affected over the busy long weekend. Canada Day.

“Additional cancellations are anticipated by Saturday morning if the strike is not called off or intervention does not occur immediately,” WestJet said in a statement Friday evening.

The company added that it was “actively and aggressively pursuing all possible avenues to minimize disruption.”

In an update released Saturday, WestJet officials said 235 flights had been canceled.

Earlier in the week, it appeared WestJet and its mechanics would avoid major service disruptions after federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan ordered binding arbitration to resolve the dispute.

AMFA argued that O’Regan’s order did not prevent it from pursuing the pressure tactics it had previously threatened, and the union released a statement late Friday saying the Canada Industrial Relations Board had told negotiators he would not ban a strike.

Union representative Ian Evershed told CTV News Calgary Friday night that the arbitration decision does not prevent the union from exercising its right to strike.

“In the minister’s letter there is no indication as to what direction to take regarding the strike or lockout,” Evershed said.

On Saturday morning, O’Regan released a statement on X.

“The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has issued an order referring the WestJet-AMFA dispute to binding arbitration with a view to a first collective agreement under section 80 of the Canada Labor Code,” declared the Minister . “I am reviewing the board’s decision, which is clearly inconsistent with my instructions to the board.”

“I will explore additional measures to protect the interests of the employer, the union and all Canadians travelling during this national holiday weekend.”

With reports from Damien Wood of CTV News Calgary