Mainline flight attendants at WestJet Group Ltd. voted last week to authorize a strike, potentially beginning on August 2, 2026, amid ongoing contract negotiations. In response, WestJet is allowing passengers traveling on mainline flights between July 30 and August 4, 2026, to make one-time changes or cancel their bookings without fees.
Scope of Flight Disruption and Union Representation
The strike authorization affects approximately 4,400 mainline WestJet flight attendants represented by the union CUPE 8125. Passengers flying on WestJet Encore, which operates Q400 aircraft, as well as those on codeshare flights operated by WestJet’s partners, will not be impacted. Customers who booked vacation packages through WestJet Vacations, Sunwing
Vacations, or Vacances WestJet Québec will be contacted by their respective providers with information about flexible travel options.
Contract Negotiations and Official Statements
WestJet’s mainline flight attendants have been working without a collective agreement since the end of 2025. Negotiations between WestJet and CUPE 8125 continue as the airline seeks to balance cabin crew improvements with business sustainability. A WestJet representative said, “Our team remains actively engaged in negotiations and is fully prepared to make meaningful improvements that work for cabin crew while balancing the future sustainability of WestJet, that recognizes the important contributions of our cabin crew.” CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain urged the
airline to return to bargaining, stating, “WestJet should do the right thing and prevent travel disruptions for their passengers.”
Impact on Travelers and Flight Operations
WestJet operates about 560 flights daily, and a strike could severely disrupt service during the Canada Civic holiday long weekend. Passengers with travel booked on mainline flights scheduled between July 30 and August 4 can modify or cancel their flights without penalty. Vacation package customers will receive direct communication from their providers regarding available options. Flights on WestJet Encore and codeshare services remain unaffected, limiting the disruption to mainline flights only.
