WestJet flight cancellations continue after mechanics’ strike ends, frustrating and confusing travellers

The surprise strike by WestJet mechanics is over, but passengers are still facing cancellations and confusion this Canada Day long weekend.

The Calgary-based airline said Monday that the impact of the strike, which began before 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 his family, said he struggled to get home to Calgary after being informed of a flight cancellation at 2:30 a.m.

“It’s really tough right now,” he said. “My dad has work, my mom has work, I have work starting. There’s nothing scheduled to be available for the next three days and we’re really trying to figure it out.”

Speaking at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Shah said he would likely have to fly home alone, separated from family members and at higher prices, after receiving little help from the airline.

“Everyone is losing their minds right now. Everyone is confused.”

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has decided to strike after federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration to resolve outstanding collective agreement issues between WestJet and the union on Thursday.

The council nevertheless authorized 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 on Friday.

“We are grateful to be back in business; however, we fully recognize the ongoing impact on our customers and sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding,” said Diederik Pen, WestJet Airlines president and group chief operating officer, in a statement.

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“Across our airline, our teams are working around the clock to safely return the 130 aircraft stationed across Canada to the skies as efficiently as possible.”

Its planes are parked at 13 airports across Canada. Eight of them do not have crew bases, meaning workers must be transported to the planes. The parked planes will also require maintenance and safety checks before they can be put back into service.

The airline advises passengers to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport and to consult the WestJet Guest Updates page online for more information.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen”

Celina Marcellus paid for a separate flight with another airline after her WestJet trip from Edmonton to her home in Kelowna, B.C., was cancelled.

She said prices for flights to Kelowna from Edmonton International Airport skyrocketed after the cancellation, so she ended up booking a flight to Abbotsford, B.C., and arranged a ride to Kelowna so she could get to work Tuesday.

“Needless to say, I’m very upset,” Marcellus said, adding that she still doesn’t know if she will receive a refund.

“The website wasn’t working and the phones weren’t working, so overall I’m pretty frustrated and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

AMFA said the deal reached Sunday provides substantial improvements, including better benefits and an immediate 15.5 percent pay increase, followed by a 3.25 percent increase next year and 2.5 percent each year for the final three years of the five-year term.

“We believe this outcome would not have been possible without the strike, but we regret the disruption and inconvenience it caused to travellers during the Canada Day holiday period,” the union said in a statement on its website.

“The timing was coincidental, as the negotiation process did not follow a predictable timetable. We are pleased that the strike only lasted 48 hours and that service can now return to normal.”