Will WestJet flights restart in time for your long weekend plans?
WestJet is scrambling to restart greater than 100 cancelled flights Friday after avoiding a pilots’ strike that threatened to upend Canadians’ Victoria Day lengthy weekend journey plans.
The Calgary-based airline and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) introduced a tentative settlement to keep away from the job motion early Friday morning. Some 1,800 pilots at WestJet and Swoop had been poised to stroll off the job in a single day Friday after the ALPA served a strike discover Monday.
In anticipation of a piece stoppage, WestJet grounded greater than 100 flights Thursday to keep away from “abandoning aircraft in remote locations without support.” The strategy of getting these flights again on-line began after the tentative settlement was reached, WestJet stated.
“The WestJet Group is ramping up its operations as quickly and efficiently as possible, however the full resumption of operations will take time,” the airline stated in an announcement.
“Guests remain encouraged to continue to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.”
WestJet’s cancellations affected dozens of routes inside Canada and to the U.S. and abroad, whereas flights on the WestJet Encore regional service and the WestJet-owned Sunwing Airlines had been unaffected.
A membership vote on the settlement will start within the coming days, the 2 sides stated.
“After months of tough negotiations with management, we are pleased to announce an agreement-in-principle that goes a long way to recognizing the value and expertise we bring to our airline every day,” stated Capt. Bernard Lewall, chair of the WestJet ALPA grasp government council.
The union has stated WestJet pilots have fallen behind their North American counterparts in recent times with regard to essential contract provisions, together with job protections, profession development, pay and scheduling flexibility.
ALPA and WestJet each stated they imagine the contract supplies higher job safety, enhanced compensation and extra versatile schedules to permit for a greater work/life stability.
“When I started at WestJet 18 years ago, it was seen as a career destination,” Lewall stated in an announcement.
“For the past several years, we have unfortunately been nothing more than a training ground for pilots looking to leave for better opportunities.”
Throughout negotiations, the union stated WestJet administration repeatedly spoke to its development technique.
“If ratified, the pilots will send a strong message that they remain committed to being a major contributor to WestJet’s success and help the company recognize its growth strategy,” the union stated.
— with information from Global News’ Karen Bartko and The Canadian Press
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