Nanaimo family stranded in Rome after flight cancelled due to near pilot strike at WestJet
A smooth weekend hasn’t been the case for some Island travellers. Many have come to expect busy ferry terminals and roadways, but one Nanaimo family has been caught up in a near strike at WestJet.
The Van De Leur family was supposed to fly home Friday morning from Rome after a three week European vacation.
“And we just got an extended vacation because WestJet cancelled our flight today,” said Godfrey Van De Leur.
1,800 pilots from WestJet and Swoop were ready to walk off the job at 5 a.m. Friday if a deal wasn’t reached between them and their employer.
A last minute agreement was made, but WestJet still cancelled the Van De Lear’s flight home through an email notification. Now the family says they are in complete limbo.
“I tried to call multiple times on different numbers they have on their website, but just can’t get through,” said Van De Leur. “It won’t connect the call to even be put on hold.”
They were given a hotel voucher worth $500 Canadian dollars. That won’t go very far in Rome, Van De Leur said.
“Right now you can’t get a room in Rome for under 500 euros,” said the stranded passenger.
In a statement to CTV News, WestJet said: “We sincerely apologize to every guest whose travel plans were impacted as a result of labour negotiations and appreciate their continued patience during this time.”
The family’s patience is beginning to run out.
“Well, generally the May long weekend is the unofficial kick-off to the summer season,” said Deborah Marshal, executive director of public affairs at BC Ferries.
BC Ferries has added 95-sailings to its major routes.
“So both the Tsawwassen Terminal as well as the Horseshoe Bay Terminal are quite busy today, and we expect that to continue into tomorrow morning,” said Marshal Friday.
On this side of the straight, Monday is expected to be its busiest day with people making their way back to the mainland.
Traffic volumes are expected to increase throughout the weekend on Island roads.
“Drivers really need to be mindful,” said Shabnem Afzal, director of road safety, policy and programs with ICBC.
Afzal says on average, two road deaths are recorded every year in B.C. during the May long weekend.
“Up to 480 people are injured in crashes in B.C. on the Victoria Day weekend,” said Afzal.
She recommends you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to ensure you make it home safe.
Back in Rome, an update from the Van De Leur family from WestJet.
“They found a flight for us and the flight leaves on Sunday afternoon around 2pm,” said Van De Leur.
However, the airline will not be reimbursing them for another night’s stay in a hotel.
“It was beyond WestJet’s control this labour disruption,” said the stranded man.
They’re out $800 for Saturday night’s hotel stay, and say they will appeal WestJet’s response for reimbursement once they are back home in Nanaimo.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.