Canadian airline WestJet has taken preemptive measures by cancelling a number of flights in preparation for a potential strike by its aircraft maintenance technicians. The airline aims to prevent passengers and planes from being left stranded in the event of a walkout.

WestJet stated that approximately 40 flights, affecting around 6,500 passengers, are expected to be cancelled from Tuesday through Wednesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, 20 flights have already been cancelled, accounting for around 4% of the airline's schedule. FlightAware, a tracking service, confirmed the cancellation of five flights on Tuesday.

The airline is actively seeking alternative arrangements for customers whose flights have been dropped. Currently, WestJet is engaged in negotiations with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association to establish an initial collective-bargaining agreement for approximately 680 mechanics.

Seeking a resolution, WestJet requested the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to enforce binding arbitration for both parties earlier this week. In response, the union informed the airline of their intention to strike on Thursday night unless the company returns to the bargaining table in Calgary this week.

Diederik Pen, the president of WestJet, emphasized that the airline's most recent contract offer would have made their maintenance engineers the highest paid in Canada, with a projected 30% to 40% increase in take-home pay within a year.

Contrarily, the union claims that WestJet is attempting to impose a contract that its members rejected with an overwhelming 97.5% vote. The union also argues that low pay is hindering WestJet's ability to fill open job positions.

Founded in the 1990s and modeled after U.S. carrier Southwest Airlines, WestJet currently operates as Canada's second-largest airline. As negotiations and discussions continue, passengers are advised to stay updated on flight cancellations and potential disruptions.