WestJet flights could be grounded as of Friday morning if pilots go ahead with threatened labour action, upsetting thousands of long-weekend travel plans.
The union representing pilots has issued 72-hour strike notice and the Calgary-based company responded with lockout notice, although negotiations between the parties continue.
An area along the curb in front of the terminal at Victoria International Airport has been designated as one of a few locations for pickets in the event of a strike, airport spokesman Rod Hunchak said Tuesday, noting pickets cannot disrupt airport operations or people going to and from the airport.
WestJet offers the most flights among airlines using the Victoria airport. On Wednesday, 14 arrivals and 14 departures are scheduled to locations including Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton and Calgary.
No additional flights have been scheduled by other airlines, said Hunchak, who said it’s a wait-and-see situation for the airport, just as it is for travellers. “It is so early on and it is just speculative right now.”
Shelley Good, president of CruisePlus Travel and Tours Ltd., said the situation is “very difficult and very unpredictable,” noting many people will have booked flights attached to other high-priced items such as a tour or a cruise.
She suggested travellers worried about the uncertainty consider booking a different flight that is totally refundable, saying they could still use their WestJet flight if the strike did not materialize.
“But it is an out-of-pocket expense for people to do that, obviously.”
Good also advised travellers to speak to their travel insurance providers and look carefully at the terms and conditions of their insurance.
WestJet said guests affected by flight delays or cancellations will be refunded or re-accommodated as applicable.
The Air Line Pilots Association said in a statement that job action on Friday “could include grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.”
Bernard Lewall, head of the union’s WestJet contingent, said flight disruptions are “never an ideal outcome,” but WestJet pilots will withdraw their services to secure a contract “that will fix many of the airline’s labour problems and make it a career destination for pilots once again.”
WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement that the decision to issue lockout notice in response to the union’s actions was not taken lightly. “And we sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests.”
Lockout notice does not necessarily mean a work stoppage will occur, a company statement said, noting that both parties remain at the bargaining table.
But it said the company would begin preparations to operate a reduced schedule and warned it would be “a significant reduction from WestJet and Swoop’s current networks.”
The union, representing 1,600 flight crew at WestJet and subsidiary Swoop, had warned Friday that a walkout could come as early as this week as talks dragged on.
Lewall said last week that the workers’ issues revolve around job protection, pay and scheduling, with some 340 pilots leaving the carrier over the past year and a half — mostly to other airlines.
In a statement last week, WestJet said its pilots are among the best paid in Canada, but that a contract on par with those recently secured by some U.S. pilot groups would be financially unworkable and put the company’s future at risk.
The union said in its news release it could have filed the strike notice over the weekend, but in a bid to keep the airline operating, it agreed to extend negotiations.
The union noted that while progress was made on most non-cost items, both sides have been unable to reach an agreement.
Travellers can check the status of a flight at Victoria International Airport at victoriaairport.com.
For information on WestJet flights, go to westjet.com/en-ca/guest-updates
