WestJet Flight Attendants Strike as 600 Flights Are Cancelled

A summer weekend brought to a standstill

About 4,400 WestJet flight attendants walked off the job early Sunday after last-minute contract talks failed, halting the airline’s mainline flights during a busy Canadian holiday weekend.halifax +1 WestJet said roughly 600 flights had been cancelled by Sunday morning, after it began parking aircraft in advance to avoid stranding crews and passengers.bbc The airline, Canada’s second largest, normally operates more than 600 flights and can carry over 70,000 passengers a day.halifax

The company suspended most new bookings through August 5, although the shutdown could extend if the dispute continues. Flights operated by WestJet Encore on Q400 aircraft and codeshare services are not affected in the same way.globalnews +1

Ground pay remains the central divide

The Canadian Union of Public Employees and WestJet have negotiated since September 2025, and members voted by about 99% to authorize a strike. The union says cabin crew can perform as many as 35 unpaid hours a month while boarding passengers, conducting safety sweeps and working through ground delays.bbc WestJet disputes that characterization, saying its higher “credit hour” rate bundles flying time, ground duties and delays into one compensation system.cbc

WestJet’s rejected proposal included a 13% wage increase in the first year, followed by 2.5% increases in each of the next three years, as well as a new duty-pay premium and scheduling changes.halifax +1 CUPE Local 8125 president Alia Hussain said unpaid work was a major priority but emphasized that the union was seeking a comprehensive agreement after nearly 11 months of bargaining.travelmarketreport

Travellers face disruption beyond the walkout

WestJet says affected customers will be refunded or reaccommodated as applicable. Under Canada’s passenger-protection rules, the carrier must first seek a WestJet or partner flight within 48 hours; if none is available, it may have to arrange travel on a competitor or provide a refund.globalnews +1 Travellers who cancel or rebook before WestJet changes their flight risk losing some statutory protections, making it important to check flight status before heading to the airport.globalnews

Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu called the stoppage disappointing and urged both sides to keep bargaining, without announcing government intervention.halifax +1 Negotiators remained at the table after the walkout began. Even after an agreement, operations may not restart immediately because parked aircraft and displaced crews must be repositioned and safety checks completed.globalnews