Officials say WestJet cancellations have not affected direct flights between Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city and London, England. The St. John’s Airport Authority says direct flights between St. John’s and London were not included in the cancellations.
A prominent air passenger rights advocate believes the weekend strike action at WestJet has underscored how protections for travellers in Canada are “woefully inadequate.”
The airline was forced to park 130 aircraft at 13 airports across the country over the weekend due to a strike by its mechanics.
A tentative deal was reached late Sunday, but further cancellations kept coming as the airline worked to get its planes off the ground.
Advocate Gabor Lukacs says the strike has brought issues with protections for air passengers to the forefront.
He describes Europe as having the “gold standard” of passenger protection, meaning labour disruptions will result in full compensation in terms of meals, accommodations, and cash.
In Canada, however, they only have to rebook a traveller either on another flight within their network, or book them on a competitor’s flight. But, Lukacs explains Ottawa doesn’t hand out fines for non-compliance—even though they have the authority.
Lukacs says Canada needs to adopt the European system.
He says there are two classifications in Europe—normal flight disruptions, and extraordinary circumstances, such as medical emergencies, and volcanic eruptions, in which meals and accommodations are owed but there is no lump sum.