WestJet mechanic locked out: Saskatoon airport hopes for quick fix

A spokesperson for the Saskatoon airport said there will be no immediate impact on operations due to WestJet's mechanical downtime.

On Saturday, WestJet issued a 72-hour lockout notice to its mechanics, warning the union that work could stop on Tuesday.

The Calgary-based airline said in a statement that the decision follows the announcement of a strike vote by the Amfraternal Association of Aircraft Mechanics (AMFA), which represents approximately 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and carrier-skilled trade groups.

The union is currently negotiating its first collective agreement with the airline and has warned travelers in social media posts not to book WestJet any time soon because “the work stoppage could cause unnecessary delays and disruptions.”

Salaries, outsourcing, scheduling and layoffs were cited by the union as issues in the negotiations.

In a statement to CTV News on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Saskatoon Airport said they are in regular contact with a small group of local aircraft mechanics and are working to ensure the airport's regular operations are not interrupted if the lockdown continues.

“The airport continues to work closely with WestJet to coordinate their needs to minimize the impact on flights and passengers in the event of a lockdown,” the statement said.

“We hope both parties will find a solution in the coming days and are working to minimize disruption to our guests.”

Starting May 7, the Saskatoon Airport will offer passengers a direct check with WestJet to determine their flight status before arriving at the airport.

WestJet President Diederic Pen said in a statement the airline said the decision to issue the lockout notice was not taken lightly, but that the union would continue to come to the bargaining table with what he called “unreasonable demands and expectations.”

In a statement, WestJet made an offer to the union to make WestJet maintenance engineers the highest paid in Canada.

“With AMFA issuing a vote warning last week and publicly directing guests to fly with other carriers, we cannot allow the unpredictable nature and lack of progress to make it a final decision,” Pen said in a statement.

WestJet said the cancellation notice does not mean travel may be disrupted. But it said it would take steps to mitigate the potential impact, such as preparing for a reduced schedule in the coming days and offering customers flexible change and cancellation options.

The union's strike ballot will continue until Thursday.

WestJet says passengers can find information on its website about what to do in the event of a disruption or cancellation.

– With Canadian Press files