Frustration is boiling over and patience is running thin among WestJet travellers. The airline and its flight attendants have ended their labour dispute, but as they work to get things up and running, some passengers feel left in the dark. “I’m travelling with five people, and being able to rebook has been a nightmare to get a hold of anyone from WestJet,” says Candace Brunton, a WestJet traveller at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. “(I) couldn’t get through online, through the app or the phones. They hadn’t rebooked us. And finally, this afternoon we finally secured a flight home. We’re going to Regina. We should be there, hopefully, by 2 a.m. I’ll be relieved once we’re in the air.” Several Maritimers are still stranded abroad, including Marsha Manuel and her husband. They were to return to Miramichi, N.B., this morning but were forced to extend their vacation getaway in Lisbon. “We received an email from WestJet saying that our flight was going to be cancelled and that we should receive an itinerary within two hours, which we did not,” says Manuel. “Nothing sent to say that your accommodations are going to be covered, nothing to help out with meals, so I’m really surprised that they’re leaving Canadians stranded all over the world really.” In a statement to CTV Atlantic, WestJet says they’re “resuming operations and entering the recovery phase following a labour disruption. flights have begun to operate; however, the impacts of the disruption continue as the airline works to restore its network.” The airline says people should check the status of their flight before heading to the airport. “If they’re not flying, then why aren’t they trying to put us with another air carrier? At least communicate with us,” adds Manuel.
