WestJet struggles to recover from Canada Day weekend mechanics strike

WestJet is still grappling with the aftermath of a two-day strike by aircraft mechanics that brought the airline’s network to a standstill for nearly 29 hours over the Canada Day long weekend and cost millions of dollars, according to BNN Bloomberg.

The work stoppage began on June 28 and resulted in the cancellation of over 1,050 flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

WestJet also canceled flights the following week. From Tuesday to Saturday, 244 flights were canceled, and at least 32 more on Sunday, FlightAware reported. The airline estimates that at least 170,000 passengers will be affected.

Resuming normal operations for a fleet of 180 aircraft in over 175 destinations is a complex, costly and time-consuming task. WestJet said in an email that they are working to resume operations immediately.

“We sincerely apologize to all guests affected by the strike,” said spokeswoman Madison Kruger. “Our teams at WestJet are working diligently to assist all affected guests as quickly as possible.”

However, many travelers have expressed their frustration in messages and social media, reporting that WestJet’s customer service was almost unavailable for days. April Miller of Arizona reported that she was on hold for 30 hours without receiving a response.

Harry Eskander said he has not received any communication from WestJet since his family’s June 30 flight from Cancun to Toronto was cancelled 16 hours before departure.

“WestJet completely ignored us, ruined our vacation and caused us significant emotional and financial stress,” he said. Eskander’s family eventually booked a flight with Delta Air Lines, which cost an additional $2,500.

Rebooking problems also plagued passengers. Canada’s Passenger Rights Charter requires airlines to rebook travelers on the next available flight, even on competitors, if they cannot rebook within 48 hours and the passenger refuses a refund. Customers claim WestJet did not offer this option.

Samuel Spencer, who was stranded on a layover in San Francisco, reported that WestJet’s automated email offered no rebooking options and suggested a refund, even though seats were available on another WestJet flight within 48 hours.

Since he was unable to reach a customer service representative by phone or at the ticket counter, Spencer rebooked his flight two days later on a Delta flight, which incurred additional costs of around $2,700.

Spencer criticized WestJet’s technology and emergency planning and called on the Canadian government and the Canadian Transportation Agency to hold the airline accountable.

WestJet claimed they offered refunds if rebooking was not possible within two days and had to respond to compensation claims within 30 days. They stated that compensation for hotels and meals was not required for situations outside the airline’s control, a point of contention among supporters.

Gabor Lukacs, chairman of the air passenger rights advocacy group, advised passengers to seek compensation in a small claims court if necessary and to lodge a complaint with the transport authority.

The impact of the strike led WestJet to withdraw its fleet from the Calgary Stampede, citing overwork among its workforce. On June 28, 680 mechanics walked off the job despite federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan ordering binding arbitration.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association strike caught WestJet and Ottawa by surprise and forced the company to renegotiate negotiations with the union.

An agreement was reached on June 30, addressing wages and compensation, but this was followed by a disruption of travel plans for tens of thousands of Canadians over the long weekend.