WestJet says it will provide refunds for flights the company cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline said on Oct. 21 that it will start to contact eligible travellers to offer refunds via email on Nov. 2. WestJet said eligible travellers include returning Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or foreign nationals currently permitted entry into Canada. The company will offer refunds in the original form of payment. Refunds are also offered for basic fare tickets. WestJet said the refund process is estimated to take six to nine months due to “administrative backlogs.” Customers are asked to wait until they are contacted, so as not to overload the contact centre. President and CEO Ed Sims said airlines around the world has been heavily struck financially by the pandemic, and WestJet is doing what it can to reduce costs in its operations after flight demands took a 95 percent freefall. “We went …