WestJet started canceling flights on Thursday in anticipation of a pilot strike, regardless of ongoing negotiations between the union and the airline.
As a result of Friday shutdown, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hensbroch stated in a Could 18 assertion that the corporate needs to keep away from “leaving planes in distant areas unsupported.”
WestJet has now parked most of its 737 and 787 plane. In accordance with von Hensbroch, WestJet Encore, WestJet Hyperlink and a restricted variety of 737 flights will proceed to function.
“We deeply remorse the impression this may have on the journey plans of our friends and the communities and companies that depend on our vital air journey,” he stated.
“We stay at a vital deadlock with the union and we’re left with no alternative however to begin taking painful steps to organize for an actual work stoppage.”
Bernard Lewall, who leads the WestJet union contingent, stated the employees’ issues are associated to pay, job safety and scheduling, and says pilots earn about half what their American counterparts earn.
In a letter to union members obtained by World Information earlier this week, WestJet’s chief pilot stated the airline had supplied a “vital” pay improve that might make them one of many highest paid employees in Canada.
The commerce union known as these information “selective”.
With over 4,000 flights scheduled over the following seven days, Cirium says WestJet accounts for 28% of Canada’s home market and Air Canada for 47%.
Low-cost airline Aptitude Airways, a direct competitor to Swoop, has added extra flights to its Vancouver-Calgary and Vancouver-Edmonton routes in anticipation of the WestJet pilots’ strike.
Greater than 1,800 pilots from WestJet and its Swoop subsidiary are prepared to depart work at 5 a.m. ET Friday after the union issued a strike discover Monday evening.
The airline recommends that vacationers verify the standing of their flight earlier than leaving for the airport, and likewise go to the WestJet Visitor Updates web page or the Swoop Name Heart for extra info on flight standing and journey modifications.
On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Omar Algabra urged the 2 sides to come back to an settlement, noting that Labor Secretary Seamus O’Regan and the mediator, Peter Simpson, who heads the federal mediation service, are on web site.
“We stay on the negotiating desk, unequivocally dedicated to reaching a deal as quickly as attainable, however equally ready to climate labor disputes for so long as it takes to succeed in an affordable final result,” von Hensbroch stated.
“Any visitor affect is simply too pricey after these negotiations, and we sincerely apologize for placing our distinguished friends in the course of an avoidable battle.”
– with recordsdata from Sean Boynton of World Information and The Canadian Press.
© 2023 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
