WestJet agrees to pay C$4.5 million to settle flight attendants' harassment class action

WestJet has reached a settlement of C$4.5 million to end a class action filed in 2016 by former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis and other female crew members who claimed the carrier failed to protect them from sexual harassment. A judge in British Columbia approved the deal on Monday, and the funds will be divided among 3,452 flight attendants after deducting legal expenses. The airline also committed to engage a third-party firm to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the prevalence of harassment, under-reporting, and the effectiveness of current reporting systems.

The settlement stops short of the plaintiffs' demands for mandatory anti-harassment training for pilots and formal acknowledgments of policy breaches. Lewis, who said she was assaulted by a pilot in Hawaii in 2010 and later dismissed for alleged insubordination, expressed disappointment with the outcome. WestJet declined to comment on the specific allegations but said it was pleased to have reached a mutually agreed settlement and remains focused on safety and a culture of empowerment.