WestJet flight attendants initiated a strike early on August 2, 2026, resulting in the cancellation of more than 300 mainline flights across Canada. Approximately 4,400 cabin crew members participated in the strike, impacting around 250,000 passengers.
Flight Cancellations and Affected Routes
The strike caused cancellation of all WestJet flights operating larger Boeing 737 aircraft, affecting routes from Regina and Saskatoon to Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Regina International Airport saw cancellations on key routes to Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver. Approximately 600 to 700 seats were removed from Regina’s air service market on August 2, 2026, where WestJet accounts for about 60% of total
seat capacity.
WestJet Encore flights, which use Q400 aircraft, along with Air Canada and United Airlines flights, continued to operate normally. However, passengers connecting to mainline WestJet flights experienced disruption due to cancellations.
Union Action and Negotiations
Members of CUPE Local 8125 and CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson conducted picketing at Saskatoon International Airport despite it not being a WestJet base, highlighting the regional scope of union involvement. Peterson stated that flight attendants had been without a collective agreement for over 200 days, asserting that WestJet flight attendants are not compensated for ground work performed before flights, which the union estimates can reach 35
unpaid hours monthly.
Contract discussions had taken place nearly nonstop since September 2025 in Calgary before breaking down. The negotiations focused on compensation and pay for pre-flight duties. The union voted 99% in favour of strike action last month.
WestJet’s Response and Offer
On the day the strike began, WestJet issued a 72-hour lockout notice concurrent with the union’s strike announcement. The airline released a revised contract offer including a 13% wage increase starting October 2026, retroactive to January 1, 2026, a 12% duty pay premium, a 13% increase in per diem allowances, an annual $300 healthcare spending account, expanded vacation entitlements, and a
17-week postpartum maternity leave top-up. Quality-of-life provisions included reduced maximum duty days, additional rest hours at home and away, and added pay for reassignments and hotel layover delays.
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech expressed disappointment over the strike, stating, “Our proposal set a new standard for cabin crew pay in Canada” but was rejected by the union. He emphasized the impact of the strike on passengers and communities served by WestJet.
Passenger Disruption at Airports
Passengers at Regina and Saskatoon International Airports faced long queues, flight cancellations, and difficulty finding alternate travel options. Some, such as Carissa Fontaine and Karissa Sehn, stayed overnight in
airports due to uncertain travel plans. Others, including passenger Jarod Eagles, struggled to arrange onward connections after flights to destinations like Phoenix and Minneapolis were cancelled.
Regina International Airport president and CEO James Bogusz noted the significant capacity loss in the market and anticipated that normal flight operations would take time to resume even after a settlement. Additional security was deployed in Regina to assist passengers.
WestJet assured affected customers are entitled to refunds or re-accommodation.
Government and Union Statements
CUPE Local 8125 union president Alia Hussain cited inadequate pay and working conditions as reasons for the strike, urging the federal government not to
intervene and expressing willingness to continue negotiations. She said, “We would not be here if the airline had taken our concerns seriously for almost 11 months of bargaining.”
Canada’s Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu called the strike a “disappointing development” and urged both parties to resume talks but did not indicate government intervention.
Union representatives emphasized the need for compensation for unpaid ground duties, a key issue also behind a 2025 Air Canada flight attendant strike.
WestJet operates over 600 flights daily, carrying sometimes more than 70,000 passengers during peak summer weekends. The strike adds to the disruption over an important
travel period for Canada.
