WestJet pilots sign 4-year deal

WesJet pilots are now among the highest paid in Canada, the airline said after a four-year deal was reached. The new agreement will be effective from January 1st, 2015.

WestJet Pilots Association Co-Chairs Paul Ysselmuiden and Michael Wesolowski said:

“The WestJet Pilot Association (WJPA) announced today that WestJet pilots have endorsed a tentative agreement with WestJet. The new four-year agreement will be effective January 1, 2015.”

“We are proud of what this agreement has attained and believe that it meets the priorities of our pilots and the company. We look forward to using the momentum from this agreement to build on WestJet’s continued success.”

While the deal, which includes pay increases and enhancements to scheduling, places WestJet’s 1,250 pilots among the highest paid in the country, the company added that it still preserves industry-leading productivity.

The new agreement expires on April 30th, 2019.

WestJet’s Executive Vice-President of Operations, Fred Cleveland, said:

“We thank our pilots for their professionalism and the outstanding service they provided our guests every day as we worked toward this new agreement over the past 24 months.”

Flight attendant problem unresolved

In November, WestJet flight attendants turned down an agreement that would have ended the unionization efforts at the airline. Ninety percent of the attendants turned out to vote, with 57% rejecting the agreement.

The airline’s management and the Flight Attendant Association Board are to meet to discuss the specific concerns that workers have.

Over the past two years, the Calgary-based airline has expanded rapidly. The growth has resulted in some workers resenting the changes that have been made.

About WestJet Airlines

WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a Canadian budget carrier that provides charter and scheduled flights to 91 destinations in Canada, Mexico, the US, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.

The company was founded in 1996, and is today Canada’s second-largest airline after Air Canada. It operates about 425 flights and carries more than 45,000 passenger each day.

The airline flew 18.5 million passengers in 2013, making it the 8^th biggest carrier in North America.