Millions of Taylor Swift fans lined up to attend her performances last year, and many also booked flights to get to the venue where their favorite musician performed. While the majority arrived safely, others experienced minor setbacks along the route.
One such victim was a Swift concertgoer in Vancouver, Canada, who missed her WestJet flight to the city due to a cancellation.
No compensation for missed flight
A Taylor Swift fan had to take a long road journey in December after her WestJet flight was canceled. According to The Canadian Press, Carol Hansson and other ‘Swifties’ were scheduled to fly WestJet from Prince George to Vancouver, but the flight was canceled less than a day before the singer’s performance.
Hansson and the gang then had to travel for ten hours to the city, where they arrived at the event but lost hundreds of dollars due to the flight cancellation.
There are restrictions regarding compensation when a passenger misses a trip, and Hansson claims that WestJet informed her that the service disruption was due to “unplanned aircraft maintenance” for safety reasons.
According to the Canadian Press, carriers are liable for a passenger’s treatment and fulfillment of their schedule in scenarios that are “within airline control but required for safety purposes.” However, compensation is not required in such cases.
According to the study, Hansson wasted $900 on unused lodging and $750 on car hire. She and a bunch of other passengers drove approximately 750 kilometers to attend the show. Simple Flying has contacted WestJet for comment.
Swift’s private flying during the Eras Tour
While her admirers flew around the world to see her perform live, Taylor Swift took many private flights to various venues. Her Eras Tour became the most successful tour for a female artist of all time, grossing more than $1 billion.
Swift flew several destinations last year, but the three airports where her Falcon 7X landed were:
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) in Nashville, Tennessee
- Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) in Kansas City, Missouri
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in Burbank, California
Her aircraft, designated N621MM, was first built by Dassault Aviation in 2009. It is a large-cabin business jet with a heavily swept wing powered by three Pratt & Whitney PW307A turbofans. It seats 16 people and has a range of 5,950 nautical miles (6,847 miles).
WestJet’s network growth
Coming back to WestJet, the Canadian carrier anticipates a busy summer season in 2025. The carrier will increase its summer seat capacity by 10%. This will be primarily driven by the addition of more than ten routes and the expansion of additional services.
The airline will add five additional destinations, including two in Canada and three in the United States. As previously reported in November, WestJet plans to introduce 11 additional routes and destinations next summer. This translates to about 3,000 weekly flights in the summer of 2025. Ottawa will experience a 36% capacity increase, the most in the carrier’s network.
WestJet will also experience double-digit growth at airports in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Regina, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.
WestJet will introduce three additional cross-border services to the United States. One of them will be a five-times-weekly flight from Edmonton to Salt Lake City beginning May 15 and ending October 24.
On June 9, WestJet will commence thrice-weekly service from Calgary to Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU). Flights to RDU, like those to SLC, will operate seasonally. Simple Flying has explored this in depth in the article below.
Why was Carol Hansson’s flight canceled by WestJet?
WestJet canceled Carol Hansson’s flight due to ‘unplanned aircraft maintenance,’ which the airline stated was necessary for safety purposes.
What did Carol Hansson do after her flight was canceled?
After her flight was canceled, Carol Hansson and other passengers rented a car and drove approximately 750 kilometers overnight to attend Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vancouver.
Why did WestJet deny compensation to Carol Hansson?
WestJet denied compensation, citing Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations, which state that airlines are not obligated to provide compensation for cancellations due to safety-related maintenance.
What are Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations regarding flight cancellations?
Under these regulations, airlines are required to provide compensation for cancellations within their control but are not obligated to do so for cancellations due to safety-related maintenance.
How can passengers seek compensation for flight cancellations in Canada?
Passengers can file a complaint with the airline directly or contact the Canadian Transportation Agency for assistance in resolving compensation disputes related to flight cancellations.
