Passenger planes from WestJet were seen lined up at the gates at Calgary International Airport on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. The Canadian Press
Early this morning, travellers across Canada faced unexpected delays as WestJet dealt with a technical problem that disrupted its flight schedule. Major airports including Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, Montreal, and Calgary all confirmed that some flights had been affected.
Officials at Saskatoon and Montreal airports explained that “network-wide technical issues” were behind the disruptions.
Cause of the Problem
In a statement, a WestJet spokesperson explained what happened. “This morning, WestJet experienced a temporary system outage that delayed the handover of aircraft from maintenance personnel for scheduled operation,” they said.
The issue caused a delay in getting planes ready for their planned departures, which created a ripple effect on schedules at several airports.
Fixing the Glitch
WestJet said they acted quickly to fix the problem. “WestJet expedited efforts to resolve the technological issue and a return to normal operations is underway. We apologize to any guests who may have experienced a disruption to their travel plans,” the spokesperson added.
By mid-morning, both Toronto and Montreal airports reported that the problem had been resolved. However, they reminded passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as some delays could still remain.
Advice for Travellers
While the glitch has been fixed, experts say travellers should still expect some ripple effects as schedules get back on track. If you have a flight booked with WestJet today, check online for updates or sign up for text alerts from the airline. Arriving at the airport early is always a good idea when disruptions occur.
Looking Ahead
WestJet is working to ensure operations return to normal quickly. Although the morning was challenging for many passengers, the airline’s fast response and updates helped keep travellers informed. With the problem now under control, flights are expected to run more smoothly through the day.
