Windsor International Airport CEO reminds travelers to check in advance due to recent WestJet strike

Windsor International Airport CEO reminds travelers to check website before their flight due to recent WestJet mechanics strike.

Mark Galvin says it is important for travelers to do their due diligence during this time.

Mechanics at WestJet have thrown thousands of Canadians off their feet this long weekend by walking off work on Friday.

According to officials, the impact of this strike is expected to affect nearly 50,000 passengers, as over 400 flights have already been cancelled since the strike.

Galvin says that although a WestJet flight took off on Saturday morning, there is currently a great deal of uncertainty.

He says to check the YQG and WestJet websites.

“The situation is constantly evolving and involves great uncertainty, so be careful and check the website and the information you can find, as it can change almost daily.”

Galvin says it is WestJet’s responsibility to assist those whose flights have been cancelled.

“That’s up to the airline, WestJet of course, to make those arrangements. So there’s a lot of condition and uncertainty. So I would just tell passengers to check the website, these things can happen quickly, and to do their due diligence and contact the airline if they need to.”

The strike followed two weeks of talks between the mechanics’ union and WestJet, although the airline had believed that government intervention would prevent a strike.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) announced that its members began striking around 5:30 p.m. MDT on Friday because the airline’s “unwillingness to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable.”

The union pointed to a Canada Industrial Relations Board order that does not explicitly prohibit strikes or lockouts during court mediation.

WestJet expressed outrage at these measures and will hold the union fully accountable for the “stress and costs” they cause.

– with files from The Canadian Press