WestJet is still canceling flights and experiencing delays on August 5, 2026, as the airline enters a recovery phase following a one-day strike by its flight attendants that ended early August 4 after a tentative agreement was reached. Flight disruptions remain across Canadian routes served by WestJet.
Flight Cancellations and Network Recovery
According to Cirium data, 16 WestJet flights scheduled for August 5 had been canceled as of around 11 a.m. Eastern time. These follow over 300 cancellations on August 4, constituting approximately 62% of WestJet’s flights that day. Ahead of the strike, WestJet placed an undisclosed number of its 737 aircraft into storage, complicating
the repositioning of planes and crews. Airline spokesperson Ashley Tymko said, “WestJet is resuming operations and entering the recovery phase following a labour disruption. Flights have begun to operate; however, the impacts of the disruption continue as the airline works to restore its network. Guests are encouraged to continue checking the status of their flights before heading to the airport.”
Passenger Policies and Union Statements
WestJet has extended a flexible cancellation policy through August 6, allowing one-time free changes or cancellations to bookings made at least two hours before departure. The airline reminded passengers that self-rebooking may result in loss of rights under Canadian Air
Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Affected travelers are entitled to alternative travel arrangements within 48 hours of cancellations or delays caused by the strike. Flight attendants represented by CUPE Local 8125 returned to work following the tentative agreement, which includes pay increases pending union ratification within 30 days. CUPE Local 8125 stated, “WestJet Mainline flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement after strike action helped bring the parties to a resolution. With the strike now over, flight attendants will be returning to work.”
Passenger Experiences During Disruptions
Passengers continue to report challenges in rebooking and receiving accommodations. WestJet traveler Marsha Manuel, stranded in Portugal and
scheduled to fly to Miramichi, New Brunswick, said, “We were scheduled to leave this morning at 6:30. We received an email yesterday from WestJet around 8:30 in the morning advising that our flight was cancelled and that we’d be rebooked within two hours — that didn’t happen.” She added that hotel accommodations and meal vouchers had not been provided nearly 24 hours after notification.
Expert Analysis on Recovery Timeline
John Gradek, aviation management lecturer at McGill University, noted the complexity of restoring airline operations after a strike: “To ride out the strike, aircraft and crews were repositioned across the country and overseas, and getting them
back where the schedule needs them takes days, not hours.” He estimated normal network operations may not resume until Friday or Saturday, with full backlog clearance taking up to 10 days due to peak summer demand. Gradek advised passengers not to cancel and rebook independently to preserve their passenger protection rights, adding, “The airline has a 48-hour obligation to get those passengers to their destination, including by buying them seats on competitors.”
Strike Background and Contract Negotiations
The one-day strike by WestJet’s flight attendants represented by CUPE Local 8125 occurred after contract negotiations starting in January 2026 failed to resolve disputes over wage increases and
claims of unpaid ground work. The labour stoppage caused WestJet to ground a large portion of its Canadian flights, resulting in cancellations affecting more than 300,000 travelers, including those impacted by pre-strike flight cancellations. WestJet confirmed all passengers impacted by strike-related delays or cancellations would receive refunds or be reaccommodated as required under Canadian regulations.
