More than 1,100 WestJet flights and counting have been cancelled since last Thursday, when a strike by the airlines mechanics union grounded travel plans for more than 100,000 customers.
The job action has since ended, but the turbulence is expected to continue for thousands of passengers this week as the company tries to get its fleet of aircrafts off the tarmac and into the sky.
In a service update, WestJet shared that the labour disruption forced the airline to park 130 of its 180 planes. The company has confirmed it will take several more days to get its schedule back in order. WestJet declined to share a firm timeline or provide comment for the tens of thousands of affected travellers.
Sitting in his hotel room in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Andre Estay says, “We just feel abandoned.â€
Estay and his wife flew to Cabo two weeks ago for their 10-year anniversary. They were supposed to fly home on Sunday, but the night before their flight was scheduled, WestJet grounded their plans.
“We received the email late Saturday night around 10:30 p.m.,†Estay told CTV News. “We've been trying to get a hold of (WestJet), all the way through Sunday, Monday and a little bit this morning, and we still haven’t been able to get through.â€
Andre Estay says he feel's 'abandoned' in Mexico after his return flight was grounded. (Image courtesy of Andre Estay)
Estay and his wife have been forced to book another flight home with their own money for $1,000, but it doesn't leave until this coming Saturday. They've also had to pay an additional $2,200 to cover extra hotel nights.
A loyal WestJet customer, Estay says he’s shocked by the lack of communication from Canada’s second biggest airline company.
“We are WestJet members for 10-plus years. We've been on their loyalty program. We have their Visa. We've done our bit. We've been loyal and then they just abandoned (us). They left us in a lurch,†he said.
If a passenger flight is cancelled in Canada during a strike, it’s deemed outside of an airline’s control -- meaning the airline is not required to offer compensation. However, it is required to rebook you on another flight within 48 hours, at its expense. If all WestJet flights are full, there is an expectation that the airline will buy you a ticket on another airline.
“Once things settle a little bit, I would send a letter of demand to WestJet with a copy of the receipts saying you caused this expense, pay up,†Gabor Lukcas, an air passenger rights advocate, told CTV News.
As Hurricane Beryl rips toward the southeast Caribbean, Global Affairs Canada is warning travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Jamaica as well as several countries in the region.
More than 1,100 WestJet flights and counting have been cancelled since last Thursday, when a strike by the airlines mechanics union grounded travel plans for more than 100,000 customers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he's been taking calls from different members of his Liberal caucus following the party's historic byelection loss in a downtown Toronto riding last week, but his focus remains on governing.
Nearly four out of 10 Ontarians say that they are considering leaving the province due to the high cost of housing, a new survey has found.
One person was killed and two others were injured in a helicopter crash near the B.C.-Alberta border on Tuesday evening, according to the RCMP.
Hurricane Beryl was roaring toward Jamaica on Wednesday, with islanders scrambling to make preparations after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean.
People who take Ozempic or Wegovy may have a higher risk of developing a rare form of blindness, a new study suggests. Still, doctors say it shouldn’t deter patients from using the medicines to treat diabetes or obesity.
A Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was diverted to New York's Kennedy Airport on Wednesday after passengers were served spoiled food, airline officials said.
Billionaire heir Anant Ambani is set to marry his longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant later this month, in a lavish ceremony widely described as the country's wedding of the year.
Mounties in Coquitlam are appealing for additional video and witnesses in a hit-and-run that sent a seven-year-old child to hospital last month.
A 29-year-old woman is dead after drowning off a small island along the British Columbia coast.
One person was killed and two others were injured in a helicopter crash near the B.C.-Alberta border on Tuesday evening, according to the RCMP.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Toronto, facing court orders to dismantle their weeks-old encampment, started to take down tents and tarps on Wednesday morning, though vowed to continue their campus activism.
Ontario is the only province where inmates are regularly locked down due to staff shortages, according to expert evidence in a pair of class-action lawsuits.
Niagara police have identified and charged a suspect with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 27-year-old woman last month.
Calgary's new logo for its 'Blue Sky City' civic brand has officially been revealed as creators of the design hope it sends a welcoming message and acts as a nod to innovation.
A youth and an adult, both from Canmore, Alta., are in hospital following a crash on the Trans-Canada Highway on Wednesday.
Didsbury RCMP are looking for the public's help to identify a man who allegedly scammed a senior out of thousands of dollars.
A future suburb in the city's southeast end is raising concerns amongst some councillors and residents over the price tag to service the area.
Violent crimes in Ottawa have increased by three per cent in 2023, according to Ottawa Police Service's annual report.
An idea by the National Capital Commission to transform a portion of Queen Elizabeth Driveway into an area dedicated to "games and music" is being met with both excitement and cautious optimism by some Ottawa residents.
The number of disciplinary cases against Quebec realtors accused of "financially abusing" their clients is going up.
As Hurricane Beryl rips toward the southeast Caribbean, Global Affairs Canada is warning travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Jamaica as well as several countries in the region.
About 200 people were forced to evacuate after a fire ignited at an apartment building in the city's Little Burgundy neighborhood.
The topic of 15-minute cities returned to Edmonton city hall last week. Discussions about the urban-planning design led city councillors to make an amendment to its plan to appease concerns about movement. Canadian Research Chair and Health Law and Policy Chair at the U of A Prof. Tim Caulfield joined CTV Morning Live to discuss the conspiracy theories surrounding 15-minute cities.
Edmonton's mayor wore a Florida Panthers jersey on Wednesday after losing a bet with a south Florida mayor.
Legal Aid Alberta says it plans to end its services next week over a contract dispute with the province.
The New Brunswick RCMP is investigating the theft of roughly 800 pounds (360 kilograms) of lobster from the Dipper Harbour Wharf over the weekend.
A 30-year-old woman is facing charges for an alleged hit-and-run in Bedford, N.S., on Sunday.
A pilot project that gives patients access to their medical records has become a permanent part of Nova Scotia’s digital transformation.
Winnipeg firefighters had their hands full over the long weekend as they tackled several significant blazes in less than 48 hours.
A gigantic celebration for a giant birthday is planned in south Winnipeg Wednesday, and will feature a flyover from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
A Winnipeg business owner is speaking out after criminals hit her establishment three times in just over a month, including a bizarre trailer fire.
Canada’s $10-a-day childcare program has created a financial crisis for a Regina daycare. The Scott Infant and Toddler Centre is burning through its cash reserves in order to remain open.
The Regina Police Service (RPS) has revealed that an investigation into a death over the weekend is now being considered a homicide.
A Sask. man who escaped RCMP custody in Dinsmore, Sask. has been found dead.
The Stratford Police Service (SPS) is looking for the public’s help identifying a suspicious person.
Police in St. Thomas are investigating a death. Police and fire officials are on scene in the area of Hiawatha and Curtis Street.
According to police, homeowners are being targeted by fraudulent contractors who show up at their homes and use high-pressure tactics to convince victims the work is needed.
A Saskatoon city councillor is denying his involvement in alleged abuse at a private Christian school.
A Sask. man who escaped RCMP custody in Dinsmore, Sask. has been found dead.
The Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) say the Monday’s homicide victim has been identified as Norman Wenzel.
The owner of Thornloe Cheese announced Wednesday it has a tentative agreement in place to sell the northern Ontario cheesemaker to Mississauga-based Triple ‘A’ Cheese.
An Ontario man who wanted to spend time with his family in Florida was hospitalized after suffering a cardiac arrest at the airport as he was about to fly back to Canada.
A man has been charged with assault with a weapon following a confrontation between neighbours on Tuesday in the Sault.
Police in St. Thomas are investigating a death. Police and fire officials are on scene in the area of Hiawatha and Curtis Street.
Police in Huron County are overseeing a death investigation. Around 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, emergency services responded to an address on Cut Line Road between Parr Line and Tipperary Line in Central Huron.
Newlyweds from London, Ont., are trapped in Jamaica, as Category 5 Hurricane Beryl approaches.
Barrie Police Sgt. Bruce Gardiner has been exonerated.
On Wednesday, a distressed senior was successfully rescued along a trail in New Tecumseth, Ont.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Collingwood and the Blue Mountains busted a young driver allegedly speeding nearly double the legal limit.
A Maidstone couple discovers an unexpected object while doing landscaping in their backyard.
A trick or a treat? The Town of Kingsville wants residents to weigh in on rescheduling Halloween.
A workplace injury has resulted in a $55,000 fine for a Windsor manufacturer.
A 29-year-old woman is dead after drowning off a small island along the British Columbia coast.
Canada’s first public, non-profit long-term care home modelled after a dementia village is celebrating its opening before tenants move in on July 8.
Mounties say two people suspected of vandalizing a rainbow crosswalk in Langford, B.C., have been identified.
A swath of B.C.’s southern Interior is being told to brace for potential severe thunderstorms Tuesday.
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect Sunday for a swath of the B.C. Interior, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Mounties in Kelowna say a suspect is at large after a man was stabbed in the city Sunday afternoon.
One of two men accused of conspiring to kill Mounties at the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., characterized the protest as a last stand and told his mother there “will be a war†if police moved in.
With the recent moisture and cooler temperatures, fire bans and restrictions in the Lethbridge area are no longer in effect.
Plenty of tourists will descend on Lethbridge to see what the city offers. Locals, too, will have no shortage of activities this weekend.
A man has been charged with assault with a weapon following a confrontation between neighbours on Tuesday in the Sault.
A 37-year-old has been charged after a security guard in Sault Ste. Marie was attacked by a shoplifting suspect June 30.
A group of Elliot Lake seniors and homeowners who have been fighting the Canadian government and by extension the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the last three years over the radioactive backfill used under their homes will be getting their day in court on Wednesday.
The union representing inshore fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador is calling on the federal government to reverse its recent decision to reopen the commercial Northern cod fishery.
As part of the emotional ceremony honouring Newfoundland and Labrador's Unknown Soldier, the province's national anthem, The Ode to Newfoundland, was sung. Military members received special permission from defence officials to salute the Ode.
The remains of a soldier from Newfoundland killed in the battlefields of France during the First World War will be laid to rest in St. John's Monday, bringing an emotional end to a years-long effort in a place still shaken and forever changed by the bloodshed.
A never-before-lived-in mansion in Whistler is on the market for $17.9 million – with the listing describing it as a 'steal for the international buyer' due to the current exchange rate, which puts the price in U.S. dollars at $13.1 million.
A new documentary filmed in Nova Scotia by marine biologist and veterinarian Dr. Chris Harvey Clark explores the increased number of white shark observations in Canadian waters.
Irish singer Niall Horan had to ditch his car and walk to Scotiabank Arena where his concert was being held last weekend because the traffic was 'too bad' downtown.
A rave at the Ontario Science Centre was the place where Greg LeBlanc says his relationship first began with his husband Mark in 1997.
Travellers flying with WestJet continue to watch as the airline cancels more flights due to a sudden strike by its mechanics union.
The remains of a soldier from Newfoundland killed in the battlefields of France during the First World War will be laid to rest in St. John's Monday, bringing an emotional end to a years-long effort in a place still shaken and forever changed by the bloodshed.
The city is entering the final stages of resuming water service through its repaired feeder main, as water consumption continues to fall below the city’s threshold level.
A grandfather and grandson duo proudly graduated alongside each other at the same northern Manitoba school.
A large basking shark was captured close to the shoreline on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore.
The federal government says it is naming Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan as defence chief, making her the first woman to hold the Canadian Armed Forces' top job.
The co-chair of the Liberals' Ontario campaign is suggesting the party's candidate in the Toronto—St. Paul's byelection needed more time to campaign before the vote.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to Washington, D.C., next week to take part in the NATO leaders' summit.
People who take Ozempic or Wegovy may have a higher risk of developing a rare form of blindness, a new study suggests. Still, doctors say it shouldn’t deter patients from using the medicines to treat diabetes or obesity.
When Hannah was seven years old, she told her parents she didn’t want to be afraid of food anymore.
Eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by more than 10 per cent, according to a new, unpublished study of over 500,000 people whom researchers followed for nearly three decades.
Grapes have been intertwined with the story of humanity for millennia, providing the basis for wines produced by our ancestors thousands of years ago — but that may not have been the case if dinosaurs hadn’t disappeared from the planet, according to new research.
Marine mammal rescuers in British Columbia are searching for an entangled humpback whale in the waters off northern Vancouver Island.
The former Apollo 8 astronaut best known for taking the iconic 'Earthrise' photo, who died last month while piloting a plane over the waters off Washington state, was doing a flyby near a friend's house when the fatal accident occurred, federal authorities said Tuesday.
Robert Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of 'Shampoo,' 'The Last Detail' and other acclaimed films whose work on 'Chinatown' became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, has died. He was 89.
Producers of the western movie "Rust" may have to forgo a robust economic incentive as they try to sell the film to distributors and fulfill financial obligations to the immediate family of a cinematographer who was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin during rehearsal in 2021.
Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, will be an Olympic torchbearer at the Paris games after recently completing his mandatory military service.
Canada recorded a bigger-than-expected trade deficit of $1.93 billion in May, the third consecutive monthly shortfall, as exports declined faster than imports, data showed on Wednesday.
Quest Diagnostics said on Wednesday it would acquire Canada-based LifeLabs from pension plan owner OMERS for about $1.35 billion, including net debt.
Health Canada is recalling thousands of popular heat pumps across the country due to a potential risk of 'excessive heat exposure.'
Billionaire heir Anant Ambani is set to marry his longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant later this month, in a lavish ceremony widely described as the country's wedding of the year.
Barry Nussbaum, a Toronto-based family lawyer who has counselled countless couples, offers advice about the details you don't want to overlook before getting married.
When Ruth Harrison and Dan Phillips relocated from the U.S. to Ecuador two years ago, their main goal was to enjoy a peaceful retirement. Life had other ideas.
Jessica Campbell will become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise after the Seattle Kraken hired her as an assistant coach Wednesday.
A controversial gesture made by Turkey player Merih Demiral at soccer's European Championship has ignited a diplomatic brouhaha between the country and host nation Germany.
Mark Cavendish made cycling history on Wednesday, winning a record-breaking 35th stage at the Tour de France.
CDK Global said 'substantially all' of the nearly 15,000 car dealerships that use its software across North America are back online to its core management system, almost two weeks since a cyber incident caused a software blackout.
Transport Canada recalled various vehicles over the last week, including Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen and Porsche cars.
It used to be cash was king and that you could get a better deal if you paid for a car in full, but now many dealers want you to finance your purchase so they can make more money.
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