It’s been a rough summer for WestJet. After the major disruption of an aircraft mechanic strike over the busy Canada Day weekend, the carrier took a big hit from a hailstorm that hit Calgary airport on August 5.
Ten days later, WestJet has announced that it will continue issuing proactive cancellations for the foreseeable future, as it works to safely return 16 damaged aircraft to service.
“A comprehensive assessment of the damage determined that sourcing specialized equipment and materials and completing repairs and inspections will take several weeks,” WestJet said in a statement.
Diederik Pen has been named president of WestJet Airlines. (Photo Credit: WestJet)
"We share in Canadians' frustration for the unpredictable nature of this summer travel season and are incredibly disappointed that the compounding impacts of last week's hailstorm continue to disrupt the travel plans of our valued guests," said WestJet Airlines president Diederik Pen.
"Our dedicated Tech Ops teams have travelled from across our network to Calgary and Toronto where they are working around the clock to return our fleet to its full capacity. We thank everyone for their patience and support and are committed to doing everything in our power to minimize the impact on our guests and our people."
WestJet says it is currently cancelling an average of 50 flights per day, but it anticipates fewer cancellations will be required as aircraft are returned to service in a phased approach.
“Through the proactive issuance of cancellations across the month of August, WestJet will aim to minimize disruption, secure re-accommodation options for those impacted wherever possible, while providing guests with timely communication and options to appropriately manage their own travel in advance,” WestJet states.
WestJet has added flights operated by WestJet Encore and partner, Canadian North, to help reduce cancellations. Additionally, WestJet has engaged Boeing and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) to secure additional resourcing and expedite aircraft repairs.
The airline acknowledges that it is currently experiencing very high volumes for phone, email and social media support channels, but it says “robust improvements have been made across digital touchpoints of the travel journey, enabling more self-serve options for guests.”
For additional support and instructions on how to best manage WestJet travel plans, advisors can visit the Guest Updates page.
Topics From This Article to Explore
