WestJet has canceled approximately 40 flights in anticipation of a potential strike by aircraft maintenance workers tomorrow, Thursday.

The airline confirmed that around 6,500 passengers have been affected by the decision, which covers flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. It added that it has begun canceling and consolidating its flights to safely and orderly ground the aircraft.

In the same context, about 670 mechanics from WestJet, represented in the Aircraft Mechanics Brotherhood, are preparing to withdraw from work early Thursday night after providing a strike notice to the airline earlier this week.

The cancellations come at a time when WestJet is awaiting a response to its request for intervention from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.

The company stated that if this step is accepted, it will refer the dispute to arbitration and prevent labor actions from both sides.

The union, whose members overwhelmingly voted to reject a preliminary agreement last week, opposed this step.