OTTAWA — Canada’s second largest airline, the WestJet Group, has cancelled about 40 flights ahead of a possible strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers on Thursday.
WestJet said on its website that about 6,500 travellers have been affected by the decision covering flights on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Calgary-based airline said it has started cancelling and consolidating flights in order to park aircraft in a safe and organized manner.
This action enabled proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded and ensure the airline can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations, it added.
Some 670 WestJet mechanics, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), are planning to walk off the job as early as Thursday night after giving a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.
The decision to cancel flights came as the airline is waiting for a response on behalf of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to intervene under the Canada Labour Code.
If accepted, this action would refer both WestJet and AMFA to arbitration for a first collective agreement and prevent labour action by either party, WestJet said.
XINHUA
