Potential WestJet strike not current priority for Saskatchewan airports | 24CA News
Saskatchewan airports stated they aren’t looking for speedy motion following the announcement of a possible WestJet strike and are as a substitute saying the airline business is bettering.
Last week, the union representing WestJet pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, which means 1,600 WestJet pilots might strike as early as May 16.
When requested concerning the potential strike, Saskatoon Airport CEO Stephen Malbury stated they’ve ‘no line of sight’ as to how it could have an effect on operations. He solely commented that the airports precedence would stay on buyer expertise.
Read extra:
WestJet pilots vote in favour of strike mandate, might stroll earlier than May lengthy weekend
WestJet chief working officer Diederik Pen stated in an announcement that strike authorization is a “common step” by unions throughout labour negotiations and “does not mean a strike will occur.”
“It’s something we are concerned about, but we are certainly hopeful that gets worked out sooner rather than later,” stated Regina Airport Authority income director Justin Reeves.
Neither airport added that they’d any preparations in place if the strike have been to occur.
WestJet simply introduced in February that it could offer flights from Saskatoon to Minneapolis in June after assist from the provincial authorities was ensured.
They additionally promised to extend connectivity between Saskatoon and Calgary with larger capability after Air Canada left the market.
If a strike occurred, it could come earlier than a busy May lengthy weekend and summer time season.
“As we are looking ahead to the summer schedule, we just got the numbers,” Reeves stated. “We are going to be at 93-per cent pre-pandemic capacity this summer and that is absolutely massive.”
Regina is anticipating to have over 130 flights per week this summer time, together with seven flights to Calgary per day.
Reeves stated issues are trying nice going into the season with decrease fares and better capability on flights.
“It seems like we have clear skies ahead and we are really excited about that,” he stated regardless of the looming potential strike.
Saskatoon famous enhancements in passenger demand, however nonetheless don’t count on to return to pre-pandemic ranges till 2024.
“There was a surge in demand so that was difficult to adjust to, there were labour shortages,” stated Malbury. “There are pilot shortages and a number of variables that are out there within our sector that have made it difficult to go back to normal in terms of operations.”
— with information from Global News’ Brody Langager
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
