WestJet flight attendants stand on the picket line outside Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Sunday. They are being represented by CUPE Local 8215. Photo by Ally Bowes /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentWould-be passengers at Halifax Stanfield International Airport were left without a flight Sunday, after around 4,400 WestJet flight attendants left their posts and moved to the picket line. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAfter nearly 11 months of bargaining, WestJet flight cabin crew represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike early Sunday morning. Article contentArticle contentAccording to a statement on the WestJet website, the airline is “initiating an organized takedown of its network” and has cancelled 309 flights scheduled through Sunday night with further cancellations possible depending on the strike length. Article contentArticle contentWestJet Encore flights remain in operation. Article content WestJet flight attendants stand on the picket line outside Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Sunday. They are being represented by CUPE Local 8215. Photo by Ally Bowes /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentThe airline is advising passengers to check flights prior to heading to the airport. WestJet added that those impacted would be rebooked to the next available flight or could request a refund. Article contentAt the Halifax Stanfield airport, 24 WestJet departures scheduled to leave Halifax are marked as cancelled as of Sunday evening, this including European, U.S. and domestic flights. Article contentIn statement from the airport, it said that it will remain in operation with other airlines continuing to fly as normal, adding that the picket line, located outside the airport by the first departure entrance, was not expected to affect passenger access. Article contentStranded passengers Article contentA passenger from one of the cancelled flights, Devyn De Rosa had been trying to get home to Edmonton with her husband and two young children following a wedding when the airline cancelled two flights in under 24 hours. Article contentShe said her original Saturday night flight was replaced with a Sunday departure which later met the same fate and was also cancelled. Currently, WestJet has booked a flight to Hamilton on Wednesday with no flight to get her family back to Edmonton. Article contentArticle content“So at the moment, I’m stranded,” De Rosa said standing in front of the WestJet check in counter on Sunday.Article contentDe Rosa, like many passengers, said she did try to get in touch with WestJet but was met with a recording saying the airline was experiencing a high demand of calls prior to disconnecting. According to her, the airline’s online chat was also unresponsive. Article contentWith accommodations and other travel expenses, she estimates that the cancellation could end up costing her an additional $2,000 to $3,000. Article content“I’m laughing because it’s like, what else can you do really at this point?” she said. “I’ve got two small kids in the car, so I just need to get back to Edmonton.” Article contentAnother passenger Martin Cabrera was supposed to fly home to Calgary on Sunday along with two others. While rebooked on another flight for later in the week, he said the airline could not confirm it would go ahead. Article content Martin Cabrera was supposed to fly to Calgary on Sunday. His flight was cancelled following the work stoppage Sunday morning. Photo by Ally Bowes /The Chronicle HeraldArticle content“With the strike still going on, youre don’t even sure if you’re able to get on those flights,” he said.
WestJet strike grounds flights out of Halifax Stanfield airport
