WestJet Offers Travel Incentives as Strike Threatens to Disrupt Long Weekend Flights

A WestJet flight from Calgary arrives at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. on July 6, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

WestJet has told air travellers that it will offer a one-time fee waiver for changes or cancellations with a looming pilot’s strike that could start as of 3 a.m. ET on May 18.

More than 1,900 WestJet and subsidiary Swoop airlines pilots and their union have threatened strike action as the two sides remain divided over wages and other collective bargaining negotiations.

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the gap between union demands and what the airline carrier is offering is still “massive.” He said bookings have gone down to some degree which is “painful,” while other passengers “seem to assume that we are maintaining flying. And that is our intention.”

With May long weekend a busy time for air travellers, the airline said it would offer refunds to passengers who change or cancel flights up until May 21, provided the request is at least two hours before departure.

“We know our guests have concerns about the ongoing labour negotiations between WestJet and our pilot’s union, and a potential disruption to your travel plans is frustrating,” the airline said in a statement on May 16.

For any passengers who have booked a flight for travel between May 15 and 21, Westjet said it would offer a one-time fee waiver for changes and cancellations. If a passenger changes destinations, the difference in fare applies.

Refunds will be provided to those that cancel their booking. Westjet said it will make every effort to help passengers get to their final destination, even if that involves moving guests to another airline if available.

For passengers that booked a vacation package for travel between May 15 and 21, Westjet will offer the same one-time no-cost fee waiver and a refund for cancellations.

Swoop travellers who are impacted by a strike can either choose alternate flights if available or request a refund.

The airline said that cargo customers are not experiencing any change in operations but if an existing booking will be impacted by a possible strike, customers will be contacted.

Members of the Air Line Pilots Association demonstrate amid contract negotiations outside the WestJet headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 31, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Negotiations

WestJet’s CEO said the company has not been profitable since 2019 because of COVID lockdowns, which grounded flights and reduced travel. Onex Corp acquired the airline in 2019, and Von Hoensbroech took the helm in February 2022.

Air Canada has half the country’s domestic passenger load, while WestJet claims almost one-third.

WestJet offered the union a raise increase, which would give captains of wide-body planes earnings of $350,000 yearly in total compensation by the end of the collective agreement term. Captains of narrow-body planes would earn $300,000. The details come from a letter sent from WestJet to flight crews that was obtained by The Canadian Press, and reported on May 17.

The union said the areas of dispute are pay, scheduling and job security, and claim that 340 pilots have left WestJet for better-paying jobs in the last 18 months.

WestJet maintains the company has hired three times the number of pilots who have resigned.

The two sides are currently in Richmond Hill, Ont., negotiating a possible deal.

On May 17, the Air Line Pilots Association announced a merger with the Air Canada Pilots Association has been approved, meaning that 95 percent of professional Canadian commercial pilots are represented by a single union including approximately 73,000 pilots. The merger agreement was reached in March but ratified on May 1.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.