Pending flight attendant strike forces WestJet to cut flights ahead of Sunday
Some travellers are heading into the long weekend on edge, as WestJet begins its first round of cancellations ahead of a possible strike by flight attendants.
The airline announced early Saturday morning that 81 of the day’s scheduled flights have been scrubbed.
The company says the move is meant to prevent crew and passengers from getting stranded, and travellers should check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
Despite the cancellations and uncertainty, the WestJet check-in area at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport was bustling Saturday morning, as families pushed carts piled high with luggage and lined up at kiosks.
If a deal is not reached by Sunday morning, either side could begin a work stoppage that would cancel hundreds of flights during a long weekend for much of the country.
WestJet says it is continuing to bargain with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 4,400 flight attendants in the hope of reaching an agreement on a new contract.
The union triggered a 72-hour strike notice that ends just after midnight Sunday in Calgary, where WestJet is headquartered, and the airline responded with a lockout notice on the same timeline.
This article was first reported by The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
