WestJet strike leaves travellers feeling “abandoned”

More than 1,100 WestJet flights have been cancelled since last Thursday, and the number is growing after a strike by the airline mechanics union disrupted the travel plans of more than 100,000 customers.

The industrial action has now ended, but disruption is likely to continue for thousands of passengers this week as the company attempts to get its fleet of aircraft off the runway and into the skies.

In a service update, WestJet said the airline had to ground 130 of its 180 aircraft due to the work stoppage. The company confirmed that it will take several days for the flight schedule to be back in order. WestJet declined to provide a specific timetable or comment on the tens of thousands of travelers affected.

In his hotel room in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Andre Estay says: “We just feel abandoned.”

Estay and his wife flew to Cabo two weeks ago for their 10-year anniversary. They were supposed to fly home on Sunday, but the night before their scheduled departure, WestJet canceled their plans.

Andre Estay says he feels “abandoned” in Mexico after his return flight was canceled. (Image courtesy of Andre Estay)

“We received the email late Saturday night around 10:30 p.m.,” Estay told CTV News. “We tried to reach WestJet all day Sunday, Monday and this morning and still haven’t been able to get through.”

Estay and his wife had to book another flight home out of their own pocket, which cost $1,000 but didn’t leave until the following Saturday, and they had to pay an additional $2,200 for additional hotel stays.

Estay, a loyal WestJet customer, says he is shocked by the lack of communication from Canada’s second-largest airline.

“We have been WestJet members for over 10 years. We are in their loyalty program. We have their Visa card. We did our part. We were loyal and then they just let us down. They let us down,” he said.

If a passenger flight in Canada is cancelled during a strike, it is outside the airline’s control – meaning the airline is not obligated to offer compensation. However, they are obligated to rebook you on another flight within 48 hours at their expense. If all WestJet flights are full, the airline is expected to buy you a ticket on another airline.

“Once things calm down a bit, I will send a letter of demand to WestJet with a copy of the receipts explaining that you incurred these costs and must pay them,” Gabor Lukcas, a passenger rights lawyer, told CTV News.