WestJet has cancelled about 40 flights affecting 6,500 passengers from 18-19 June in anticipation of a strike by aircraft maintenance engineers after negotiations between the carrier and the union representing them broke down. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) representing WestJet had issued on 17 June a 72-hour notice that it intended to strike starting 20 June, 9pm eastern Canada time. In response, the carrier says it has started cancelling and consolidating flights, “in order to park aircraft in a safe and organised manner” and “minimise the potential for being stranded and ensures the airline can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations.” The strike notice came after WestJet cancelled negotiations scheduled for 19-20 June after a tentative agreement was rejected by 97.5 percent of voting aircraft maintenance engineers, states AMFA. Following the rejection of the tentative agreement, the carrier had asked the Canadian government to “impose” on its aircraft maintenance engineers the same contract, the union adds. In its statement, the carrier says it is waiting for a response on behalf of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to intervene under the Canada Labour Code. “If accepted, this action would refer both WestJet and AMFA to arbitration for a first collective agreement and prevent labour action by either party,” WestJet says. "Following the memberships' nearly unanimous decision to reject a generous tentative agreement that would have made our Aircraft Maintenance Engineers the highest paid in the country, with a take-home pay increase of 30 to 40 per cent in the first year of the proposed agreement, it is clear that the bargaining process has broken down,” says Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and Group chief operating officer. Meanwhile, the union representing WestJet has slammed the carrier, describing its aircraft maintenance as “in [a] state of collapse”, citing an increase in the number of aircraft operating with Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs) identifying inoperable equipment. "In May 2023, WestJet’s fleet operated with 101 MELs. One year later, in May 2024, that number had increased 115% to 218. By May 27, 2024, that number had increased to 257." "The current state of WestJet flight operations reflects a peeling back of important layers of protection. While the affected aircraft may be 'airworthy' in a legal sense, they are flying air passengers at a lower level of safety and the trend is disturbing," states AMFA.

Turkish Airlines has launched a new route from Istanbul to Denver in Colorado, marking the airline's 14th destination in the USA. Starting 11 June, it will operate three flights per week between Istanbul airport and Denver International airport, increasing to four flights per week from 9 July onwards, the carrier says. With the addition of Denver, the airline now serves 347 destinations across 130 countries globally.

Airstream International Group has been mandated to sell a further five ATR 72-500s on behalf of Bangladeshi carrier NovoAir.
The 1999-2002 build aircraft, bearing MSNs 600, 646, 636, 687 and 597, are available for immediate sale, the aircraft remarketing specialist says. Following the disposal, the carrier will have no aircraft left in its fleet, Cirium fleets data shows. Airstream previously arranged the sale of two ATR 72-500s (MSNs 805, 816) on behalf of NovoAir to Nepalese carrier Yeti Airlines.