A WestJet mechanics strike at the end of June only lasted a few days, but managed to disrupt the travel plans of an estimated 110,000 people. At the Calgary International Airport, over 40 per cent of incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled. And if you think that was bad, the looming Air Canada pilots strike will be orders of magnitude worse.

Late last month, the Air Line Pilots Association voted to approve a strike mandate that could see 5,200 pilots walk off the job as early as Sunday if a last-minute deal cannot be reached. This will ground 670 flights a day, which typically serve more than 110,000 passengers.