WestJet ordered to pay more than $2K to passengers after offering $16.17 as reimbursement

Court tells WestJet that close doesn't count in flight from Hawaii to Vancouver after flight diverted to Victoria due to smoke from a volcano

A court in British Columbia this week ordered WestJet airline to pay a total of more than $2,000 to three passengers whose flight from Hawaii was diverted from Vancouver to nearby Victoria. The airline had argued that because the plane made it most of the way to where it was going, the passengers should still pay most of the cost.

The unnamed applicants, referred to in court documents as RA, SB and MB, purchased a flight from Hawaii to Vancouver with the respondent, WestJet Airlines Ltd. But the April 13, 2023 flight was diverted to Victoria because of smoke from a volcano.