Flight disruptions continued at WestJet on Tuesday as the airline ramped up following a brief work stoppage over the long weekend. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed 16 WestJet flights scheduled for Tuesday had been cancelled, as of around 11 a.m. ET.
That comes after more than 300 flights were cancelled Monday, or around 62% of those scheduled, despite the carrier reaching a tentative deal early that morning with the union representing its 4,400 flight attendants.
WestJet has said a full return to normal operations will take time as the airline resumes flying and repositions its aircraft and crews. It added that it would share further details on the return to operations as they become available.
“WestJet is resuming operations and entering the recovery phase following a labour disruption,” WestJet spokesperson Ashley Tymko said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
“Flights have begun to operate; however, the impacts of the disruption continue as the airline works to restore its network. Guests are encouraged to continue checking the status of their flights before heading to the airport.”
Flight attendants walked off the job early Sunday morning after WestJet and CUPE Local 8125 couldn’t reach a new contract before the strike deadline, which prompted WestJet to ground all flights across much of Canada.
Ahead of the strike, WestJet was allowing passengers travelling between July 30 and Tuesday to make a one-time change or cancellation with no fees.
It had said affected passengers would be refunded or re-accommodated as applicable when delays or cancellations occurred.
Under passenger protection rules, it is the airline’s responsibility to arrange alternate transportation for ticket holders on a rival carrier’s flight if necessary.
In a news conference in Calgary on Monday, the union’s local president Alia Hussain said flight attendants have 30 days to ratify the agreement. She said the deal includes pay increases, but wouldn’t provide further details in order to ensure members were briefed first.
TICO
Meanwhile, in Ontario TICO shared the following information for consumers who booked travel packages that include WestJet flights that were cancelled, including through or provided by WestJet Vacations, Sunwing Vacations, or any other TICO-registered travel business that includes WestJet flights as part of the package:
Under Ontario law, if a TICO-registered travel agency or tour operator acquires rights to travel services for resale to other registrants or consumers and cannot provide those services because a supplier fails to deliver them (for example, a flight to the destination), the consumer must be offered their choice of:
- A refund;
- Comparable alternate travel services acceptable to the customer; or
- A voucher or similar document that is acceptable to the customer for future redemption towards travel services.
If a consumer chooses a refund for a travel package that can’t be delivered, Ontario consumer protection laws require that the refund be provided within a reasonable timeframe.
For more information about the labour disruption and WestJet’s policies, please click here.
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