WestJet strike: Several flights at YVR cancelled after agreement

The tentative agreement to end a days-long strike by WestJet aircraft mechanics was not reached in time to avoid further travel problems at Vancouver airport on Monday.

WestJet announced the tentative agreement with the airline’s unionized mechanics late Sunday night, hours after the two parties returned to the negotiating table.

“We are not taking victory laps on this result, but we will sleep better tonight knowing that further damage has been prevented,” WestJet President Diederik Pen said in a statement.

However, the airline also warned that there would be “further disruptions” in the coming weeks until operations return to normal.

These disruptions include several canceled Canada Day flights from Vancouver International Airport, which were announced Sunday morning just hours before the strike was called off.

The destinations of the affected flights include Los Cabos, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary.

WestJet canceled 78 scheduled flights nationwide on Monday and another three on Tuesday. Since the strike was first announced on Thursday, the airline has canceled a total of 832 flights.

The Airplane Mechanics Fraternal Association said in a press release that “significant improvements” were made in the latest round of negotiations on the workers’ interim five-year agreement. A vote on ratification of the agreement will take place soon.

“We believe this outcome would not have been possible without the strike, but regret the disruption and inconvenience it caused to travellers during the Canada Day holiday,” the union said in a statement.

“We are glad that the strike only lasted 48 hours and that operations can now return to normal.”