The WestJet Group averted a strike after reaching a last-minute deal with the airlineSA国际影视传媒檚 pilots early Friday, but not before cancelling hundreds of flights and upending the long weekend plans of thousands of passengers.

Travellers stuck at airports expressed frustration with cancellations and delays, while others took to social media with stories of ruined vacations.

WestJet said Friday itSA国际影视传媒檚 ramping up operations as quickly as possible, but warned that the full resumption of operations will take time. The airline encouraged travellers to continue to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative agreement to avoid the job action early Friday morning after eight months of negotiations, but the airline had grounded the bulk of its fleet Thursday, including for its Swoop subsidiary, ahead of the strike deadline.

The shutdown affected dozens of routes within Canada and to the U.S. and overseas, while flights at the WestJet Encore regional service and the WestJet-owned Sunwing Airlines were unaffected.

While the tentative agreement avoided a strike, many travellers were still confronted by cancelled flights and foiled holiday plans.

WestJet cancelled 231 flights from Thursday through Saturday, topping the global list two days in a row, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.

At TorontoSA国际影视传媒檚 Pearson Airport, WestJet travellers described cancelled and delayed flights, mainly to Central and Western Canada.

Tommy Gilligan was set to be on flight to Calgary early Friday for a family wedding and holiday in Banff, Alta.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey told us at 4:30 in the morning that it was going to be delayed, and now they just cancelled it,SA国际影视传媒� the 65-year-old from Burlington, Ont., said.

SA国际影视传媒淢y wife pulled some strings and weSA国际影视传媒檙e on a six oSA国际影视传媒檆lock flight tonight. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not happy right now SA国际影视传媒� my whole familySA国际影视传媒檚 waiting for us.SA国际影视传媒�

The strike-related scheduling chaos with CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 second-largest airline is SA国际影视传媒� totally ridiculousSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渘ot one bit fair to us,SA国际影视传媒� Gilligan said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think ISA国际影视传媒檒l use WestJet after this weekend.SA国际影视传媒�

Other travellers shared his frustration with the airlineSA国际影视传媒檚 handling of the situation, while also expressing support for the pilots.

Diran Adenugba, 44, was at the airport for a flight home to Saskatoon, the final leg in his return journey from Atlanta. His original flight was scheduled to leave Thursday evening, but was cancelled after WestJet grounded planes ahead of the strike deadline.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was rescheduled to fly out this morning at 9 a.m.,SA国际影视传媒� Adenugba said. SA国际影视传媒淚 got here to find out that flight was cancelled yet again.SA国际影视传媒�

He was rebooked on an afternoon flight to Saskatoon via Winnipeg, and said he has his fingers crossed he will get out of Toronto on Friday.

Still, despite the inconveniences, Adenugba remained sympathetic to the pilotSA国际影视传媒檚 grievances.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not a pilot,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut if I were in their shoes, ISA国际影视传媒檇 want my demands to be met.SA国际影视传媒�

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the agreement with the pilots provided SA国际影视传媒渕eaningful improvements to job security and scope, working conditions and wages.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e appreciate we were able to arrive at a deal, however, recognize the impact on our guests and we sincerely appreciate their patience during this time,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Bernard Lewall, who heads the Air Line Pilots AssociationSA国际影视传媒檚 WestJet contingent, had said the workersSA国际影视传媒� issues revolved around pay, job security and scheduling, with pilots earning roughly half of what some of their U.S. counterparts make.

In a statement, Lewall said union leaders believe the tentative deal SA国际影视传媒渄elivers on the goals of better job security, enhanced compensation, and more flexible schedules to allow for a better work/life balance consistent with collective agreements other ALPA-represented pilot groups are signing with their employers.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭his contract will also help solve many of WestJetSA国际影视传媒檚 pilot attraction and retention issues, benefiting everyone involved from our company to our passengers and fellow employees.SA国际影视传媒�

-By the Canadian Press