A group of approximately 30 WestJet flight attendants staged a demonstration outside Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Sunday, in response to a nationwide strike initiated due to unsuccessful contract talks between the airline and the union.
By 1:30 p.m. AT, all WestJet flights to and from Halifax had been canceled for the day, leaving numerous passengers stranded within the airport premises.
Ed and Ann Meehan, who were on a visit from the United Kingdom, had to spend the previous night sleeping on the airport floor with other affected passengers after their flight was rescheduled and subsequently canceled multiple times.
Ultimately, they had to personally finance bookings on another airline, resulting in a five-hour layover in Iceland on their way back. The couple, frequent visitors to Canada, expressed that this experience has negatively impacted their perception of the country.
“There has to be a more efficient way to resolve such issues without inconveniencing the Canadian population, international travelers, and tarnishing Canada’s reputation,” remarked Ed Meehan, stating they do not intend to revisit Canada.
Other travelers faced similar challenges. Ryan Callbeck, upon learning at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday that his flight to Regina was canceled, arrived at the airport with a group of eight individuals. Despite being provided with a toll-free customer service hotline, Callbeck mentioned that each call would abruptly disconnect upon dialing.
As a labor dispute disrupts flights, passengers at Halifax Stanfield fear financial losses from canceled trips. CBC’s Molly MacNaughton reports.
“It’s disheartening. There’s no avenue for resolution other than this toll-free number that disconnects you,” Callbeck expressed. While showing understanding towards the flight attendants, he expressed deep frustration over the sudden disruption of their long-planned trip and the additional expenses incurred to extend their stay.
Across Canada, 4,287 WestJet flight attendants initiated a strike on Sunday due to concerns regarding compensation and working conditions. The union argues that its members are not adequately compensated and are required to perform unpaid tasks, such as ground work prior to departure.
WestJet has assured that affected passengers will receive refunds or alternative accommodations “where applicable.”
Officials at Halifax Stanfield International Airport are advising passengers with WestJet bookings in the next three days to verify their flight status online before heading to the airport.
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