WestJet, the second-largest passenger airline in Canada that recently added freighter service in North America, and the union representing 1,850 pilots reached a last-minute agreement in principle Thursday night on a brand new labor contract, avoiding a strike that will have shut down business.
The tentative agreement between management and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) must still be presented to union membership for a ratification vote. The pilots were able to walk off the job Friday morning and not using a deal after nine months of negotiations.
ALPA said the collective bargaining agreement provides higher job security, wages and versatile schedules, closing the gap in these areas with their North American counterparts.
“After I began at WestJet 18 years ago, it was seen as a profession destination,” said Capt. Bernard Lewall, chair of the WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council. “For the past several years, we’ve got unfortunately been nothing greater than a training ground for pilots seeking to leave for higher opportunities. This contract will change that and make WestJet a profession destination once more.”
WestJet said it’s ramping up operations as quickly as possible after starting a controlled wind down on Thursday to reduce passenger inconvenience and stranded aircraft.
“The WestJet Group is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that’s industry-leading inside Canada and recognizes the vital contributions of our valued pilots by providing meaningful improvements to job security and scope, working conditions and wages,” said CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.
The resolution is nice news for cargo owners that utilize WestJet to maneuver goods. WestJet last month began operating an all-cargo unit with three Boeing 737-800 freighters connecting 4 Canadian cities, plus Miami and Los Angeles. A fourth freighter is predicted to hitch the fleet this yr. WestJet also moves cargo within the holds of passenger jets.
Air Canada adds freighter destination
In related news, Air Canada on Friday operated its first freighter flight into San José, Costa Rica, with considered one of its Boeing 767s. The flights will operate twice per week.
Air Canada has six Boeing 767 freighters in its fleet 18 months after launching a freighter airline. 4 of the planes are retired passenger jets that were converted to cargo configuration and two are production freighters from Boeing that entered service this month. Air Canada is adding more destinations as cargo aircraft join the fleet.
The network expansion follows the beginning of weekly freighter service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, this month, and the addition of Basel, Switzerland, as a freighter destination last month. Air Canada Cargo also recently added two weekly flights to Miami and Atlanta and one to Liege, Belgium.
The freighter division also flies to Dallas; Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; Bogota, Colombia; Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Istanbul.
Having freighters along with passenger service allows Air Canada to offer consistent, year-round capability to cargo owners.
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