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

WestJet mechanics’ surprise strike is over (new window)But passengers are still facing cancellations and confusion over the 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 hard right now, he said. My dad has work, my mom has work, I have work starting. It says for the next three days nothing is available and we are 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’s brains are going crazy right now. Everyone is confused.

I couldn’t be more frustrated. I’m trying not to lose my cool. – Spencer Fox, WestJet passenger

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.

VIDEO | WestJet customers should expect more disruptions this week:

Travel disruptions continue after WestJet strike ends

The WestJet mechanics strike has ended and staff are back at work, but travellers are still scrambling to find alternatives as the airline works to return operations to normal.

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, Diederik Pen, WestJet Airlines president and group chief operating officer, said in a statement.

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.

“We regret the disruption,” union says

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.

Were you affected by WestJet flight delays this weekend? Let us know what happened by emailing [email protected].

Needless to say, I am quite upset, Marcellus added that she still does not know whether she will receive a refund.

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

Spencer Fox, who traveled from Ohio to Whistler, B.C., said he was forced to pay an extra $700 for food, transportation and accommodations after his return flight from Vancouver was cancelled. Adding to his frustration, he said he was unable to reach WestJet customer service.

He said that although he enjoyed his time in Canada, it was Probably the worst travel experience I have ever had.

I couldn’t be more frustrated. I try not to lose my cool, he said.

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 posted on its website.

The timing of the strike is 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.

Kevin Maimann (new window) · CBC News