WestJet Encore pilots might go on strike and here's how it could affect your flight

Some turbulence may be in the forecast after WestJet pilots voted in favour of authorizing a strike.

On April 2, aviators at WestJet Encore voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, with a walkout possible within the month.

The pilots are said to be unified in their efforts to secure a contract that will "bring stability to their careers and the airline." However, a strike or lockout could lead to troubles for passengers.

According to the Airline Pilots Association Int'l, which represents WestJet Encore pilots, of the 89 percent of pilots who participated in a strike-authorization vote, 97 percent voted in favour of a strike, if necessary.

While owned by parent company WestJet, WestJet Encore is a separate entity headquartered in Calgary. WestJet Encore operates flights to various destinations across Canada and has a flight crew of over 300 members represented by the ALPA.

The pilots have been in negotiations since September 2023 as the airline faced pilot attraction and retention issues and remaining pilots were left to fly a more challenging schedule, becoming overworked and facing increased fatigue issues, according to the ALPA.

The ALPA says that while progress was made in the early stages of negotiations during the past seven months, momentum "came to a near standstill" once talks shifted to sections of the contract including pay and career progression.

According to the ALPA, WestJet Encore pilots are currently some of the lowest-paid regional pilots in Canada.

"Without drastic improvement on our next contract, there will be little stopping WestJet Encore pilots from continuing to seek better employment opportunities elsewhere," said Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council.

"That's why we are looking for an industry-standard contract comparable to some of our regional colleagues across Canada."

Pilots could go on strike as soon as April 17, according to the union, if negotiations continue to stall. WestJet Encore pilots are prepared to file a 72-hour strike notice on April 14, it says.

A strike or lockout could mean disruptions to passenger services. Last year, WestJet narrowly avoided a strike after talks with a different set of pilots came down to the wire.

A strike notice issued by the pilots prompted the airline to cancel a number of flights in preparation, to avoid the potential of leaving passengers stranded.

More than 230 flights were cancelled before an agreement was reached, according to the Canadian Press. At the time, WestJet said that impacted passengers would be refunded or re-accommodated, as applicable.

"A strike authorization vote is a common step by unions in context of the overall labour negotiation process and does not mean a strike will occur," Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and COO of the WestJet Group, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We are steadfast in our commitment to reach an agreement with ALPA that addresses the unique concerns of our Encore pilots, is competitive within Canada’s airline industry and ensures we have a long-term sustainable future so that we can continue to operate critical air service for millions of Canadians, while providing meaningful employment for thousands at the WestJet Group."

The ALPA says it "remains committed" to the bargaining process.