More than 300 WestJet mainline flights were cancelled on Sunday, August 2, 2026, after 4,400 flight attendants represented by CUPE Local 8125 went on strike early that morning. The walkout affected approximately 250,000 passengers across Canada, prompting widespread travel disruptions at Regina International and Saskatoon International airports.
Contract Dispute Over Pay and Unpaid Ground Work Causes Strike
The strike resulted from failed contract negotiations over wage increases and compensation for unpaid work, particularly time spent working on the ground. The flight attendants have been bargaining without a collective agreement since their contract expired on December 31, 2025. WestJet had proposed a deal including a 13% wage increase starting October 2026,
retroactive pay to January 1, 2026, a 12% pay premium for duty pay, an immediate 13% per diem increase, $300 annual health care spending accounts, expanded vacation, and a 17-week postpartum maternity leave top-up, but CUPE rejected the offer.
CUPE president Alia Hussain said the union was striking for better pay and to address unpaid work, stating, “We are on strike because we believe we deserve better. We would not be here if (the airline) had taken our concerns seriously for almost 11 months of bargaining.” WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech expressed disappointment and emphasized that WestJet had offered a
proposal to establish a new Canadian standard for cabin crew pay covering all time before and after flights alongside a double-digit wage increase in the first year.
Flight Cancellations Disrupt Key Routes from Saskatchewan Airports
Hundreds of mainline WestJet flights operated with Boeing 737 aircraft were scrubbed on August 2, particularly impacting routes from Regina to Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver, and from Saskatoon to Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Regina International Airport lost between 600 and 700 seats from the market that day; WestJet accounts for roughly 60% of the airport’s seat capacity. Regina’s CEO James Bogusz said the disruption was more severe than the Air
Canada flight attendant strike in 2025.
Saskatoon International Airport, where the airline does not maintain a base, also saw picketing by CUPE officials including Saskatchewan CUPE president Kent Peterson and union members residing in the region. Peterson criticized WestJet’s stance on pay, saying, “Every worker should be paid for every second they are at work, and unfortunately that is just not the case for WestJet’s cabin crew.”
Passengers Face Long Delays, Stranded at Airports
Travelers faced lengthy waits at customer service counters while trying to rebook or obtain refunds for cancelled flights. Jarod Eagles, stranded in Regina en route to Phoenix, expressed frustration about disrupted connections. Despite
WestJet Encore flights continuing to operate normally, Eagles’s connecting flight from Calgary to Phoenix was canceled, leaving him uncertain about travel options. He said, “What’s the point of getting to Calgary if I have no other option?” and added, “I’m trying to get to a place where I can see my kids again.”
Additional security personnel were deployed at Regina International Airport to assist affected passengers. Some stranded travelers, like Carissa Fontaine and Karissa Sehn at Toronto Pearson, reported spending nights on airport floors amid cancellations. Others such as Lindsay Williams from the UK struggled with extensive wait times on
the WestJet customer service phone line.
Ongoing Negotiations and Government Reaction
Negotiations between WestJet and CUPE were active in Calgary, with near-continuous sessions attempting to bridge differences. Both sides remained engaged despite the strike crippling operations. WestJet issued a 72-hour lockout notice on July 30, coinciding with the union’s strike notice.
Canada’s Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu expressed disappointment the strike was not averted, stating, “A strike or lockout does not mean an agreement can’t be reached; the expectation is that parties can and should come to an agreement at the bargaining table.” She did not indicate whether the government plans to intervene.
WestJet is Canada’s
second-largest airline with about 30% of the domestic market and operates over 600 flights daily. Its parent company is Onex Corp. Flight attendants at Air Canada had a similar strike in August 2025 focusing on unpaid ground work.
