Canada’s WestJet cancels 235 flights due to strike

A WestJet aircraft takes off in Calgary, Alberta, on January 21, 2021. Photo by The Canadian Press via AP

The cancellations by the country’s second-largest airline come in addition to 150 flights canceled on Friday and 25 more on Thursday.

More than 55,000 domestic and international passengers were affected by the various cancellations ahead of Canada Day on Monday, WestJet estimated in a statement.

“This situation is devastating,” WestJet President Diederik Pen said in a statement, blaming the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which called for the work stoppage.

The airline said it was forced to cancel further flights to maintain stability in its remaining operations “until the union’s irrational strike is ended or immediate intervention is made.”

The threat of a strike appeared to be averted on Thursday when the Canadian government ordered binding arbitration to settle a contract dispute over wages and working conditions.

However, the mechanics’ union argued that the decision did not prohibit a strike and decided to go ahead with the strike on Friday night anyway, insisting that “the airline’s unwillingness to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable.”

Employment Minister Seamus O’Regan was due to meet with the parties on Saturday afternoon to put them on the path to resolving the dispute.

WestJet operates 198 commercial aircraft to over 100 destinations in nearly 30 countries.