WestJet cancels 100-plus flights as pilot strike looms and customers scramble

WestJet cancelled more than 100 flights on Thursday after talks with the pilots' union hit a "critical impasse," throwing travel plans into turmoil for thousands of passengers ahead of the May long weekend. Some 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary are poised to walk off the job as of 3 a.m. MT after the Air Line Pilots Association served a strike notice Monday. CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said late afternoon Thursday that the two sides are "still significantly apart," but noted both remained at the negotiating table despite the "stalemate" -- until past 3 a.m. Thursday morning. "We basically announced to them that we will lock out all pilots as of tomorrow morning at 3 a.m." -- if a tentative deal is not reached -- he said in a phone interview from a hotel near Toronto's Pearson airport. "Everyone knows that things have to come to a head now. And I truly hope that we can come come up with something that works," he said, from outside the windowless bargaining room. WestJet began to park the bulk of its fleet Thursday morning using a "measured, phased and safe approach," the Calgary-based company said. As of early Thursday evening, the carrier had cancelled 111 flights or 31% of those scheduled for the day, according to tracking service FlightAware. The vast majority were out of Calgary or Toronto, with affected routes ranging from London to Las Vegas, Barcelona and Saskatoon. Would-be travellers voiced their frustration on social media, with some saying they'd been stuck on the customer service line for hours and others posting screenshots of problems with refund processing. Passengers say they received emails stating a work stoppage might prompt a change in itinerary that "may" entitle them to compensation. "If required, you will be provided with alternate travel arrangements," although none were proactively offered, Somani said.<br/>