WestJet Halts Flights as Flight Attendants Walk Out on Strike in Canada’s West

WestJet Resumes Flights After Reaching Deal with Flight Attendants’ Union

WestJet flights are back in the air following a tentative agreement between the airline and its flight attendants’ union. The agreement was reached after the airline faced a strike from its cabin crew.

CEO of WestJet, Alexis von Hoensbroech, expressed satisfaction with the tentative agreement, highlighting the dedication and professionalism of the cabin crew. He mentioned that efforts are underway to restore full service and minimize disruptions for passengers.

Although the exact timeline for resuming full operations was not disclosed, WestJet had to cancel a significant number of flights during the shutdown period. Data from FlightAware indicated that 302 flights, representing 60% of the schedule, were canceled as of Monday morning.

While WestJet’s main operations were affected, flights operated by its regional affiliate, WestJet Encore, continued as usual. The regional carrier operates a fleet of de Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400s from bases in Calgary and Vancouver.

Passengers impacted by the flight cancellations were assured of refunds or alternative travel arrangements by WestJet. Other airlines like Air Canada and Porter Airlines also stepped in to assist affected WestJet customers by providing additional flights and dedicated check-in desks.

WestJet’s service extends to 27 destinations in the United States, with major gateways in cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. The airline is a strategic partner of Delta Air Lines.

Resolution of the Strike

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing WestJet’s flight attendants, and the airline have reached a tentative agreement. The deal, which focuses on enhancing the flight credit system and compensating cabin crew appropriately, will be subject to a ratification vote by the crew members.

The primary point of contention in the negotiations was the issue of pay, specifically payment for all work hours, including time spent on the ground with the aircraft door open. The union’s demand for compensation during boarding and deplaning mirrored similar arrangements at other airlines like Air Canada and Delta.

WestJet’s proposed wage increases of over 20% until 2029, along with a “pay premium” for all duty hours, were part of the offer to the flight attendants. The airline also included additional quality of life improvements in the proposal.

As the agreement moves forward for crew approval, the focus remains on addressing the concerns raised by the flight attendants to ensure a fair and sustainable working relationship between the union and the airline.