Calgary tourism industry fears WestJet strike will harm Stampede

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Calgary’s tourism industry is breathing a sigh of relief and is gearing up for the Stampede after WestJet and its mechanics ended a three-day strike.

The Calgary-based airline was still recovering Tuesday after many flights were canceled across the country. As of midday Tuesday, 18 WestJet flights out of Calgary had been canceled, a marked improvement from the more than 110 cancellations at the airport on Sunday and more than 80 on Monday.

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So far, only three flights from Calgary have been cancelled for Wednesday. Since last Thursday, 1,137 WestJet flights have been cancelled across Canada.

WestJet said in a statement that part of the challenge is that the planes are parked at 13 airports across Canada and in several cases crews have to drive to the planes to pick them up.

Hoteliers and the tourism industry were eagerly awaiting the deal as the Stampede weekend approached

Calgary’s hotel industry has not been severely affected by the flight cancellations, said Sol Zia, executive director of the Calgary Hotel Association. The number of rooms cancelled is “in the hundreds … not the thousands,” he said. Canada Day weekend does not attract as many tourists because it is more family-oriented and out-of-town visitors often stay with relatives and friends, he said.

Even more worrying, however, was the threat that industrial action could extend into the week before the Stampede festival, when artists and thousands of visitors – including countless business people staying in hotels – fly into Calgary.

“It would have been dramatic,” said Zia.

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The association expects 130,000 guests to visit Calgary during the ten-day open-air show. The performers and artists who appear at Stampede often arrive several days before the rodeo.

“We were very worried. Guests are coming, and then many artists come to town, and they come a little earlier,” said Zia.

Alisha Reynolds, CEO of Tourism Calgary, said there were discussions “at a high level” about contingency plans for Stampede should the strike continue through the week, but she did not elaborate on what those plans entailed.

“We hoped for a quick resolution, focused on safety and wanted to get all travelers back on their planned itineraries as quickly as possible,” Reynolds said.

The Calgary Stampede did not respond to Postmedia’s request for comment.

Passengers may not receive compensation

After a weekend that many say damaged WestJet’s reputation, the airline faces a major challenge in making up for the loss to its passengers, says Robert Kokonis, president of AirTrav Inc., a Toronto-based aviation consulting firm.

Travel disruptions caused by work stoppages or strikes outside an airline’s control are not eligible for reimbursement under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Because of this, WestJet is not obligated to compensate the more than 100,000 passengers affected by the strike, Kokonis said.

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“I would say WestJet is really in a bind. But if you follow the (regulations), there is no bind for them – they don’t have to pay open or closed,” Kokonis said.

“But when it comes to brand and reputation damage, they will do something.”

Some claim that WestJet played an active role in the work stoppages and flight cancellations. John Gradek, an aviation expert and professor at McGill University, believes WestJet is partly responsible for the strike.

“In my opinion, this is completely within (WestJet’s) control,” Gradek said.

The Canadian Transit Agency, the country’s transportation authority, said in an email that a strike is beyond the airline’s control and that WestJet must rebook passengers on the next available flight departing within 48 hours of the original departure time. If that is not possible, WestJet is obligated to provide a refund or make alternative arrangements for the passenger.

Dissatisfied customers or those who have not received a response within 30 days can file an official complaint asking the CTA to review the case.

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Following the end of the strike, WestJet is now required to provide food and accommodation, pay up to $1,000 in compensation and rebook passengers on a flight departing within nine hours of the original departure time on the airline’s network or that of its competitors.

Kokonis said WestJet may hold a major seat sale in the coming weeks and offer special deals to members who earn points, and may offer individual compensation packages for people who missed “irreplaceable” things like weddings.

“As a goodwill ambassador, WestJet should perhaps look at some cases where it was quite a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “But it is a challenge because if you open the door a crack, what does that mean for everyone else?”

WestJet did not respond to a request for an interview from Postmedia.

On Tuesday, some WestJet customers were informed of a short window of opportunity to purchase discounted flights.

An email advertised a promotion that allows you to save up to 30 percent on travel between July 9 and February 16, 2025, if you book by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The airline said the offer is valid for more than 95 destinations.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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