Calgary-based WestJet fined $70K by Canadian Transportation Agency

A WestJet plane is seen at a gate at Calgary International Airport on Aug. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet has been hit with a $70,000 fine for Air Passenger Protection Regulations violations.

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) announced the penalty Thursday.

The CTA said WestJet committed 16 violations by “failing to provide passengers affected by the delay and subsequent cancellation of flight WS3103, food and drink in reasonable quantities.”

The agency also said the Calgary-based airline committed 19 violations by “failing to offer passengers affected by the delay and cancellation of that same flight, hotel or other comparable accommodation that is reasonable.”

The violations occurred Feb. 16, 2025, the CTA said.

WS3103 is a Calgary-Nanaimo flight.

CTV News reached out to WestJet for comment but has yet to receive a response.

Meanwhile, advocacy group Air Passenger Rights says last week’s penalty isn’t enough.

“I don’t think overall the Canadian Transportation Agency is doing nearly enough to actually enforce passengers’ rights,” said Gábor Lukács, Air Passenger Rights president.

Lukács said it’s “not simply the amount of this fine,” but that “we need to have meaningful enforcement and compliance.”

He called this incident “a small chip in a big puzzle.”

“The big infraction that happened recently during the situation in Mexico—where are the consequences for that?” he said.

“They’re issuing this as a way to deflect attention away from that, in my opinion.”

Last month, Canadians were stranded in Mexico, their flights cancelled amid cartel violence.

Lukács said he sees two ways to force change:

He said one is “to pick up the phone and ask to meet with federal members of Parliament.”

“MPs need to hear about the fact there’s no meaningful enforcement in transportation,” he said.

The other, he said, is “refuse to fly with Canadian airlines whenever you can help it.”