WestJet began grounding 76 flights on August 1, 2026, at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and started parking Boeing 737 aircraft amid stalled labour negotiations. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike notice on July 30, 2026.
CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain said, “We have made some progress, and the issues remaining need to be resolved at the table. We are hopeful that we can still avoid a strike and remain committed to resolving this there.” A WestJet spokesperson stated, “At this time, negotiations have not resulted in an agreement and as
a labour disruption approaches, WestJet must begin the difficult process of parking 737 aircraft.” The airline added, “We remain active at the bargaining table to achieve a mutually agreeable deal at the earliest possible time.” Passengers are urged to check for cancelled flights.
The strike deadline for WestJet flight attendants is August 2, 2026, just before the August long weekend, a period of traditionally high passenger volumes. Thousands of travelers could face suspended or changed travel plans due to grounded flights and the potential strike.
