WestJet employees have decided to halt their job action, but Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is cautioning passengers with bookings on the airline that their flights could still be impacted. A tentative agreement was reached between WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in their contract dispute early on Monday following the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
According to YVR, it will take some time for WestJet’s operations to return to normal service. On Monday, a total of 21 WestJet flights are set to depart from Vancouver, while 49 others remain canceled. WestJet Encore flights were not affected by the dispute.
Flight attendants at WestJet went on strike on Sunday, seeking compensation for hours spent assisting passengers or waiting for delayed flights to depart when not in the air. Some passengers have had to navigate the consequences of the disruptions on Monday, including Tran Thai from Edmonton, whose flight was canceled, requiring him to fly from Vancouver to Victoria in the evening and endure a 16-hour layover before heading home.
The details of the tentative agreement have not been disclosed by WestJet, and it is contingent on CUPE members ratifying the deal for it to come into effect.