WestJet Across the Great White North

Currently in ongoing negotiations for their second collective labor agreement, Pilots of WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline after flag-carrier Air Canada, have reiterated their call for greater job-security, better working conditions, and industry-standard wages. The aviators’ demands echo loudly in the wake of the Canadian federal government’s formal approval of WestJet’s acquisition of Toronto-headquartered low-cost air-carrier Sunwing Airlines.

WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council chair Captain Bernard Lewall stated: “We have been anticipating this announcement for some time, but unfortunately it came without any consultation with WestJet management. We currently have meetings scheduled with the company next week where we will seek additional information and clarification regarding any potential future merger of operations, its impact on our current contract negotiations, and the pilot group as a whole.”

Executives at both airlines previously set forth that the planned takeover will occasion no job losses.  ALPA, however, will continue looking forward to ensuring the pilots’ priorities are linked to the airline’s future success.

ALPA Canada president Captain Tim Perry remarked: “While this acquisition may make business sense for the WestJet group of companies, from ALPA’s perspective, to achieve a successful outcome, this transaction with Sunwing must translate into opportunity for all pilots. Our members know that for acquisitions or mergers to be successful, the professional pilots need to be on board.”

Founded in 1994, WestJet provides scheduled and charter air-service to more than one-hundred destinations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The air-carrier’s fleet comprises primarily narrow-body aircraft, and consists of variants of Boeing’s 737 Next Generation and 737 MAX families. WestJet retains a single, wide-body Boeing 787, which it operates on select long-haul routes.

Although not a formal member of any airline alliance, WestJet has codeshare agreements with numerous airlines.

FMI: www.westjet.com