‘Massive gap’ between WestJet, pilots’ union as strike looms and bookings fall: CEO

TORONTO –

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says an enormous hole stays between the airline’s supply to pilots and the union’s counter-proposal for a brand new contract as job motion looms.

Round-the-clock negotiations between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association proceed to accentuate because the clock ticks down towards a Friday strike deadline.

Around 1,800 pilots on the service and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to stroll off the job as of three a.m. japanese daylight time Friday after the union issued a strike discover Monday night time.

The standoff leaves 1000’s of passengers with journey plans for the May lengthy weekend and past hanging in limbo — and has already affected bookings, the CEO says.

With greater than 16,700 flights slated for this month, WestJet carries almost a 3rd of Canada’s home market, whereas Air Canada has half of it.

Bernard Lewall, who heads the pilot union’s WestJet contingent, says pay, scheduling and job safety stay the sticking factors.

“The gap is still massive,” von Hoensbroech mentioned of the proposals throughout a video name from the bargaining venue, a resort in Richmond Hill, Ont.

As worries over a attainable strike ramped up, bookings have been “softening” in tandem, the CEO mentioned.

“It is painful,” he mentioned, including that capability has but to return to 2019 ranges at most Canadian airways.

“So there are limited options for passengers to move away — which, by the way, also shows that in the case of a disruption, the damage to the Canadian public would be massive,” he mentioned, noting that WestJet is the principle nationwide service for some communities in Western Canada.

In response to the strike discover, WestJet issued a lockout discover shortly earlier than midnight Monday to keep up “control” over its planes, the CEO mentioned.

“If a strike hits us on short notice at a point where we don’t expect it, we may strand an airplane somewhere in the Caribbean — in I don’t know where,” he mentioned. “Then we are in trouble.”

The CEO in addition to WestJet’s chief working officer and chief monetary officer have all descended on a resort within the Greater Toronto Area to attempt to hash out a cope with the union.

In the occasion of a delay or cancellation, prospects can be “refunded or re-accommodated, as applicable,” the airline mentioned Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed May 16, 2023.