The WestJet Group says it has reached a last-minute agreement with the airline’s pilots to avoid a strike and is now stepping up operations as swiftly as possible.

 

However, the airline cautions that it would take some time for operations to fully resume and urges passengers to keep checking the status of their flights before leaving for the airport.

Early Friday morning, WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative deal to prevent the work action.

Prior to Friday’s strike deadline, the airline has grounded the majority of its aircraft on Thursday, including for its Swoop subsidiary.

Numerous routes inside Canada, to the United States, and abroad were disrupted by the shutdown; however, WestJet Encore regional flights and Sunwing Airlines flights were unaffected.

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the agreement with the pilots provides “meaningful improvements to job security and scope, working conditions and wages.”