WestJet nears 1,000 total flight cancellations on third day of strike

EDITOR'S NOTE: WestJet has confirmed that as of June 30, 2024 at 10:30 p.m. MT, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) are withdrawing their strike action. Click here for the latest details.

WestJet proceeded with more flight cancellations on Sunday (June 30) as the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) entered its third day of strike.

The airline cancelled an additional 410 flights to a cumulative total of more than 800 flights since a strike notice was issued ahead of the Canada Day long weekend – one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

“Missed vacation goers, stranded business travellers and long-weekend family reunions have been disrupted due to AMFA’s action to strike, and we are sincerely sorry to the tens of thousands of Canadians that have experienced the compounding impacts to of this unnecessary work stoppage. I am encouraged by our employee's willingness to rise above the adversity and deliver a safe and controlled operation going forward.” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and group chief operating officer, in a statement.

READ MORE: WestJet extends flight cancellations to Tuesday (July 2) as strike drags on

“We continue to hold our view that the current strike serves no purpose other than to inflict maximum damage to our airline and the country. WestJet is in receipt of a binding arbitration order and await urgent clarity from the government that a strike and arbitration cannot exist simultaneously; this is something they have committed to address and like all Canadians we are waiting.”

Sunday’s cancellations are accompanied by the airline parking additional aircraft as it reduces its fleet to approximately 32 active tails.

WestJet says it will operate a reduced schedule with the remaining fleet "for as long as the labour action continues."

Flight cancellations are now extending to Tuesday (July 2). This is the latest cancellation total (as of Sunday, June 30 at 3:15 p.m. EST): 

WestJet Vacations 

Beyond disrupted flight itineraries, travel advisors are also now left to clean up the mess that has been left for customers travelling with WestJet Vacations.

For all WestJet Vacations bookings for travel between June 29-July 2, 2024, only the air portion of a vacation package will be refunded to original form of payment if a client cancels a booking, reads an update posted to the airline’s website.

“The land portion will be returned as WestJet dollars with a one-year expiry date from the date of cancellation,” the company writes.

It is unclear whether all insurance companies cover the loss of hotel due to a strike action.

WestJet goes on to say that when a customer cancels online, they will receive a message that indicates the cancellation is a full loss of funds – “however, the funds will be returned as outlined above,” the airline says, noting that refunds will take up to 30 days to process.

Customers who booked through a travel advisor are being advised to contact their agent directly.

PAX has reached out to WestJet for further clarification.

"Canadians need this resolved”

The AMFA, which represents WestJet’s aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) and tech ops, commenced a surprise strike on Friday evening (June 28), triggering this latest round of flight cancellations.

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech took to his LinkedIn page on Saturday to air his frustration with the situation.

“In my 25 years in aviation, I have never encountered such an unreasonable counterparty. Calling for a strike despite the Minister ordering arbitration is a misuse of the right to strike,” von Hoensbroech wrote.

Strikes and lockouts are “important and legitimate tools” to apply pressure during collective bargaining processes, the CEO went on to say.

“However, once the parties are in arbitration, there is no more bargaining taking place, so a strike no longer influences the outcome,” he wrote. “By still going on strike, the union is doing nothing more than creating damage and disrupting potentially hundreds of thousands of guests, without any benefit for their membership.”

Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has also addressed strike, writing Saturday on social media that he is reviewing the Canada Industrial Relations Board's decision, "which is clearly inconsistent with my direction to the Board."

"I will be looking at additional steps to protect the interests of the employer, the union and all Canadians travelling over this holiday weekend," O’Regan wrote.

In a follow-up post on X early Sunday, Minister O’Regan said he met with WestJet and the AMFA, telling them to work with the Canada Industrial Relations Board to resolve their differences and get their first agreement done.

"There’s a lot at stake here," he wrote. "Canadians need this resolved."

WestJet customers are advised to check the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport. 

Visit WestJet's Guest Updates page for more information regarding flight status, travel changes and more.

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