A group of young people flew into Regina from Vancouver for a weekend church camp, but they don’t know how they’re going to get home if there ends up being a WestJet labour disruption. “It’s a bit intimidating,” said WestJet passenger Ethan Braun. “It’s a bit scary that we might not make it home on time, but I’m hoping that everything goes well with the strike, that everything can be settled before our flight home.” Over 4,000 WestJet flight attendants have provided strike notice for early Sunday morning. The company has responded with a lockout notice and has started parking planes. However, shorter flights operated by WestJet Encore will continue flying. “We have many mixed aircraft here from WestJet so the jets would impact routes like Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax as examples but we also have to remember that even if you’re on an Encore flight that may be operating, your connection beyond may be on a WestJet mainline flight,” said James Bogusz, CEO of Regina Airport Authority, told CTV News. Some arriving passengers were relieved that they made it home ahead of a strike. “I was a little bit concerned that they were going to cancel some of the flights on Friday but then they said that they weren’t going to take action until Sunday,” said WestJet passenger Paul Argue. People like Subreena Kaban have to consider upcoming trips planned by family members. “It’s Mom that’s flying so I don’t think we’re too concerned. It’s a short flight,” Kaban said. “Worst comes to worst, what’s going to happen? I go back to Estevan or we hop in the Jeep and we drive what – six hours to get to Winnipeg, so it’s not a big deal.” WestJet says it remains actively involved at the bargaining table but the decision to begin parking planes means some travel disruptions could soon be inevitable.
