Air Canada pounces on WestJet ‘uncertainty’ amid strike threat

Noah Zivitz, BNN Bloomberg

Air Canada , The Canadian Press//Michelle Siu

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Air Canada is aiming to cash in as its main rival braces for the possibility of a walkout by its pilots.

"Travellers who may be concerned about the uncertainty resulting from WestJet's strike vote mandate can book Air Canada with confidence," Air Canada said in a release Thursday afternoon, less than a half hour after the Air Line Pilots Association said in a tweet 91 per cent of its WestJet members voted to authorize a strike.

The union is in a legal strike position as of May 19, but said a walkout won't start until after the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend.

Air Canada said it's adding capacity on key routes in a bid to "limit disruptions" for travellers.

WestJet, meanwhile, indicated it's still hopeful that a strike can be averted.

"We remain at the negotiation table to drive a sustainable agreement, in the best interest of our pilots, 13,000 WestJetters and the 70,000 guests who fly with us daily," CEO Ed Sims said in a release.

Labour strife has intensified at WestJet in recent months as the airline prepares for the launch of Swoop, its ultra-low-cost offshoot, that's set to launch this summer.