Flyers furious as WestJet cancels flights expecting worker strike

Heather Dunbar/Shutterstock

If you booked a WestJet flight for this week, it might be cancelled.

At midnight on Wednesday, the airline released a statement saying it has started cancelling and consolidating flights in preparation for possible strike action by WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Tech Ops employees.

In the coming 48 hours, the carrier says it will be parking aircraft in a phased and safe approach, resulting in around 40 cancellations between Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19. The cancellations will impact around 6,500 passengers.

WestJet says this action enables proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded. It also ensures the airline avoids abandoning aircraft at remote locations.

In preparation for labour action by WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Tech Ops employees, @WestJet has started cancelling and consolidating flights.

We deeply regret any disruption this will have on our guests’ travel plans.

Read more: https://t.co/dzp0yDSUDW

— WestJet News (@WestJetNews) June 19, 2024

Potential labour action

According to the statement, the decision to cancel flights comes as the WestJet Group awaits a response on behalf of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene under the Canada Labour Code.

If accepted, this action would refer the airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union representing WestJet maintenance workers, to arbitration for a first collective agreement and prevent labour action by either party.

“We are immensely disheartened that we are in a position where we must activate our contingency plan and begin parking aircraft as a result of the strike notice served by AMFA,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and Group chief operating officer, in a statement.

“We deeply regret the disruption this will have on the travel plans of our guests, communities and businesses that rely on our critical air service.”

An update from Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer on the preparation for labour action on behalf of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Tech Ops employees. pic.twitter.com/KBtavSHe90

— WestJet (@WestJet) June 19, 2024

AMFA said it issued the strike notice on June 17 after WestJet “refused to proceed with negotiations” scheduled for June 19 and 20 in Calgary.

“We are left with only one response. It is time to march, demonstrate, and lobby your elected officials,” reads a statement from the AMFA-WestJet negotiating committee.

AMFA has served the airline with legal notice of the bargaining unit’s intention to strike beginning at 9 pm EST on June 20.

“Following the memberships’ nearly unanimous decision to reject a generous tentative agreement that would have made our Aircraft Maintenance Engineers the highest paid in the country, with a take-home pay increase of 30 to 40% in the first year of the proposed agreement, it is clear that the bargaining process has broken down,” responded Pen.

What to do if you have an upcoming WestJet flight

The airline says it’s making every effort to re-accommodate impacted guests.

It advises travellers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. For more information on flight status, travel changes, and more, visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page.

“My flight to Vancouver on Saturday better not get cancelled because of a mechanics strike. I cruise on Sunday. Settle this! The price we pay to fly in Canada, you be able to give everyone a raise,” reads one post.

My flight to Vancouver on Saturday better not get cancelled because of a mechanics strike. I cruise on Sunday. Settle this!
The price we pay to fly in Canada, you be able to give everyone a raise.

— Anthony M (@AnthonyM86484) June 18, 2024

“Get your act together and negotiate and keep your customers. Negotiate with your employees who actually used to love working for you,” added another.

You regret nothing. WestJet has become the worst airline. Peak summer travel season too. Get your act together and negotiate and keep your customers. Negotiate with your employees who actually used to love working for you. @WestJet

— Wayne Tressel (@TresselSpecial) June 19, 2024

Cancelled WestJet flights so far

The airline released a network-wide list of cancelled flights at 1 pm MST.

The following 18 flights on Wednesday, June 19 have been cancelled:

WS615 YOW-YVR
WS422 YEG-YYZ
WS660 YYC-YYZ
WS428 YEG-YYZ
WS121 YYC-YVR
WS132 YVR-YYC
WS175 YEG-YVR
WS674 YYC-YYZ
WS483 YWG-YVR
WS177 YEG-YVR
WS135 YYC-YVR
WS133 YYC-YVR
WS342 YYC-YQU
WS131 YYC-YVR
WS600 YYC-YXE
WS296 YYC-YQR
WS675 YYZ-YYC
WS178 YVR-YEG

The following 13 flights on Thursday, June 20 have been cancelled:

WS601 YXE-YYC
WS144 YQU-YYC
WS102 YVR-YYC
WS606 YQR-YYZ
WS649 YYZ-YYC
WS419 YYZ-YEG
WS429 YYZ-YEG
WS100 YVR-YYC
WS661 YYZ-YYC
WS956 YVR-YYC
WS1788 YVR-LAS
WS1789 LAS-YVR
WS160 YVR-YEG

How have you been affected by these cancellations? Share your story with us via email at [email protected]. We might contact you for a future article.

You might also like: