The WestJet Group averted a strike after reaching a last-minute deal with the airlineB次元官网网址檚 pilots early Friday, but not before cancelling more than a hundred flights and upending the long weekend plans of thousands of passengers.
Travellers stuck at airports expressed frustration with cancellations and delays, while others took to social media with stories of ruined vacations.
WestJet said Friday itB次元官网网址檚 ramping up operations as quickly as possible, but warned that the full resumption of operations will take time. The airline encouraged travellers to continue to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative agreement to avoid the job action early Friday morning after eight months of negotiations, but not before the airline 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.
While the tentative agreement avoided a strike, many travellers were still confronted by cancelled flights and ruined holiday plans.
At TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Pearson Airport, WestJet travellers described cancelled and delayed flights, mainly to Central and Western Canada.
Diran Adenugba, 44, was at the airport for a flight home to Saskatoon, the final leg in his return journey from Atlanta. His original flight was scheduled to leave Thursday evening, but was cancelled after WestJet grounded several planes ahead of the strike deadline.
B次元官网网址淚 was rescheduled to fly out this morning at 9 a.m.,B次元官网网址� Adenugba said. B次元官网网址淚 got here to find out that flight was cancelled yet again.B次元官网网址�
He was rebooked on an afternoon flight to Saskatoon via Winnipeg, and said he has his fingers crossed he will get out of Toronto on Friday.
Still, despite the inconveniences, Adenugba remained sympathetic to the pilotB次元官网网址檚 grievances.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not a pilot,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut if I were in their shoes, IB次元官网网址檇 want my demands to be met.B次元官网网址�
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the agreement with the pilots provided B次元官网网址渕eaningful improvements to job security and scope, working conditions and wages.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e appreciate we were able to arrive at a deal, however, recognize the impact on our guests and we sincerely appreciate their patience during this time,B次元官网网址� he said.
Bernard Lewall, who heads the Air Line Pilots AssociationB次元官网网址檚 WestJet contingent, had said the workersB次元官网网址� issues revolved around pay, job security and scheduling, with pilots earning roughly half of what some of their U.S. counterparts make.
In a statement, Lewall said union leaders believe the tentative deal B次元官网网址渄elivers on the goals of better job security, enhanced compensation, and more flexible schedules to allow for a better work/life balance consistent with collective agreements other ALPA-represented pilot groups are signing with their employers.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his contract will also help solve many of WestJetB次元官网网址檚 pilot attraction and retention issues, benefiting everyone involved from our company to our passengers and fellow employees.B次元官网网址�
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