Canada’s August Getaway Grounded as WestJet Strike Cancels 615 Flights and Disrupts 250,000 Travellers

WestJet flight attendants officially began strike action on Sunday, August 2, 2026, after final negotiations between the airline and the union representing its cabin crews failed to produce a new collective agreement, suspending the carrier’s main operations during Canada’s busy summer travel season and long August weekend.

WestJet had cancelled 615 flights scheduled through Tuesday as of mid-morning Sunday, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. The airline said the cancellations had disrupted the travel plans of approximately 250,000 people over the three-day holiday weekend, with more passengers expected to be affected if the work stoppage continues.

The airline confirmed that its scheduled Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 services were suspended beginning at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time on Sunday. WestJet Encore regional flights continue to operate, and passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport without a confirmed alternative itinerary.

Approximately 4,400 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 8125 are taking part in the strike following months of negotiations over wages, working-hour calculations and duties performed before takeoff and after landing.

The union is seeking compensation for employees from the time they check in for work until they clock out, rather than a system under which most compensation is linked to the period when an aircraft is in motion. Ground duties include safety checks, passenger boarding assistance, cabin preparation and work performed before departure.

CUPE issued a 72-hour strike notice on July 30, and WestJet subsequently issued a 72-hour lockout notice. The union said it had sought a negotiated agreement that recognized the value of flight attendants’ work without disrupting passengers or the travelling public.

Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said the employees were on strike because they believed they deserved better working conditions, adding that the union remained ready to return to the bargaining table and reach a settlement.

WestJet, meanwhile, said its offer included a 13% wage increase in 2026, followed by annual increases of 2.5% through 2029. The airline also said it proposed additional compensation for all hours worked that would be equivalent to a further 12% salary increase. The union did not immediately provide a detailed response to the figures released by the company.

Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, described the latest development as disappointing but said a strike or lockout did not prevent the parties from returning to negotiations and reaching an agreement at the bargaining table.

WestJet said affected passengers would be notified through email and text messages and would be rebooked on the next available flight, including services operated by other airlines. Travellers may also review their options or request a refund to their original form of payment.

Under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations, labour disruptions are generally classified as situations outside an airline’s control. Passengers are therefore not normally entitled to inconvenience compensation under the Canadian rules, but they retain rights to free rebooking or a refund for the unused portion of their ticket, depending on their circumstances.

As a large airline, WestJet must arrange an alternative flight on any carrier, including from a nearby airport when available, if it cannot rebook an affected passenger within 48 hours of the original departure time.

Travellers with flights scheduled in the coming days are being urged to check their flight status regularly and not travel to the airport if their service has been cancelled unless they have received a confirmed replacement itinerary. Passengers should also retain cancellation notices and receipts for additional expenses in case they need to file a claim.