WestJet continued to intensify its operations on Friday in an attempt to restore long-distance travel plans over the weekend for thousands of passengers who were unable to travel due to flight cancellations before the airline reached a last-minute agreement with its pilots.

Passengers stranded at airports expressed their frustration with cancellations and delays, while others turned to social media with stories of ruined vacations.
 

WestJet warned that the full resumption of flights would take time and encouraged travelers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a preliminary deal to avoid the effects of a work strike early Friday morning after eight months of negotiations.

For his part, Bernard Lewal, head of WestJet’s pilots' union, said the union achieved its main goals including:

Better salaries, job security, and work-life balance. He said in an interview: "We received significant wage increases." We also secured our future through job protection, and introduced improvements to work-life balance."

Aviation expert John Gradek described it as a "historic agreement," saying it would set a benchmark for labor negotiations moving forward.

Gradek, former CEO of Air Canada and head of the Aviation Management Program at McGill University, said: "What we are seeing is a tectonic shift beginning to emerge in how union-management labor relations will develop in Canadian aviation."

He said the union will likely apply the same approach in negotiating with other airlines.

Gradek added, "The rate of pilot pay in Canada will increase, without a doubt."

However, he said that the increase in pilot wages is unlikely to lead to higher prices for consumers, due to competition from ultra-low-cost carriers.

While the preliminary agreement avoided the strike’s impacts, many travelers still face canceled flights and disrupted holiday plans.

WestJet had canceled 231 flights from Thursday to Saturday, topping the global list for two consecutive days, according to FlightAware flight tracking service.

The shutdown affected dozens of flights within Canada and to and from the United States and beyond, while regional WestJet Encore and Sunwing Airlines flights owned by WestJet were unaffected.

At Toronto Pearson Airport, WestJet passengers described cancelled and delayed flights, especially to central and western Canada.

Tommy Gilligan was scheduled to travel to Calgary early Friday for a family wedding and a vacation in Banff, Alberta. The 65-year-old man from Burlington, Ontario said, "My wife pulled some strings and we're on the 6 PM flight tonight. I'm not happy right now — my entire family is waiting for us."

Gilligan said the scheduling chaos linked to the strike with Canada’s second largest airline was "completely ridiculous" and "a bit unfair to us." "I don't think I will use WestJet after this weekend."

Other travelers shared his frustration with the airline's handling of the situation while also expressing support for the pilots.

Meanwhile, Diran Adenogba, 44, was at the airport on a return flight to Saskatoon, the last stop on his return trip from Atlanta.

His original flight was scheduled for Thursday evening but was canceled after WestJet halted flights before the strike deadline.

Adenogba said: "My travel was rescheduled for this morning at 9 AM." "I came here to find out that the flight was canceled again." He was rebooked on an afternoon flight to Saskatoon via Winnipeg,

He said he would leave Toronto on Friday. However, despite the inconveniences, Adenogba remained sympathetic to the pilots’ complaints.

He said, "I'm not a pilot." "But if I were in their place, I would want my demands met."

Gradek said travelers are likely to blame the labor strike and resulting flight disruptions on WestJet, not the pilots. He said the airline "was concerned about brand value and market share." "WestJet basically said, 'Let's cut our losses.' " Nevertheless, Gradek said the bill for hundreds of canceled and delayed flights will be in the "millions" for WestJet.
 

Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet’s CEO, said the agreement with the pilots provided "meaningful improvements to job security, scope, working conditions, and wages."

He said, "We appreciate that we were able to reach an agreement; however, we acknowledge the impact on our guests and sincerely appreciate their patience during this time."

Meanwhile, Lewal from the union said the deal includes financial gains and improvements to pilots’ lifestyles.

The recent agreement includes pilots' ability to reschedule, trade, or drop so-called deadheads—when an airline requires a pilot to move to an airport different from where they live to begin their shift.

He said the union also secured the right to obtain a pension for pilots.

Lewal said, "We are very excited about the entire package," noting that the contract will help address many pilot recruitment and retention challenges at WestJet.

He said the deal will be developed into a tentative agreement in the coming days, with a voting period of about one week shortly thereafter.

Lewal also said: "Although it was a highly contentious time, we all met last night after the agreement, shook hands, and had a drink together."

Adding, "The interactions with the company were always very professional and never tense, so I must tip my hat to the company."