But passengers are now unable to make online bookings for flights on major routes such as Calgary-Vancouver and Toronto-Calgary until Tuesday. Few flight cancellations had registered for Friday and afterward. With more than 4,000 flights scheduled over the next seven days, WestJet carries 28 per cent of Canada’s domestic market, while Air Canada runs 47 per cent, according to Cirium, an aviation data firm.Īs of Thursday afternoon, WestJet said it had cancelled 98 flights. The union issued a strike notice Monday night, and the airline responded by saying it might lock pilots out instead. “The WestJet Group remains at the bargaining table, firmly committed to achieving a reasonable agreement as soon as possible, to protect the future travel plans of valued guests,” the spokesperson said. The head of ALPA’s WestJet bargaining unit said the union is staying at the table. Late Thursday afternoon, both sides confirmed they’re still at the negotiating table, despite a morning statement from WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech saying the talks are at a “critical impasse.” Sources say the two sides were negotiating until 4 a.m. Federal labour minister Seamus O’Regan is also on site, and has been assisting in negotiations since arriving in Toronto Tuesday night.

The talks are being overseen by Peter Simpson, head of the federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Friday strike deadline looming ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend, the country’s second-biggest airline - and its discount carrier Swoop - was still at the table with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) at a hotel near Pearson International Airport.

The vast majority were out of Calgary or Toronto, with affected routes ranging from London to Las Vegas, Barcelona and Saskatoon. Contract talks between WestJet and its 1,800 pilots seem set to go down to the wire, but the airline has already started grounding some of its planes.Īs of Thursday, the carrier had cancelled 111 flights or 31 per cent of those scheduled for the day, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Free download limbo line