WestJet cancelled over 300 flights on Monday, August 3, 2026, representing approximately 62% of its scheduled departures that day, as the airline entered the recovery phase following a one-day strike by its flight attendants.
As of around 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 4, 16 WestJet flights scheduled for that day were also cancelled, according to Cirium data. The airline is working to restore normal operations while managing the aftereffects of the labour disruption.
Flight Attendant Strike and Contract Dispute
The strike involved 4,400 WestJet flight attendants represented by CUPE Local 8125. It began in the early morning of Sunday, August 2, 2026, and lasted
one day, ending after the airline and union reached a tentative agreement that includes pay increases.
Labour talks between WestJet and CUPE Local 8125 had been ongoing since January 2026 in Calgary, focusing on wage increases and disputes over unpaid ground work by cabin crew. Prior to the strike, WestJet placed an unspecified number of its Boeing 737 aircraft into storage as a precaution for the job action.
Passenger Impact and Responses
Passengers experienced cancellations and delays across multiple domestic and international WestJet routes in Canada, including flights between Portugal and Miramichi, New Brunswick. Marsha Manuel, a passenger stranded in Europe due to a
cancelled WestJet flight from Portugal, reported absence of timely rebooking and lack of accommodations such as hotel stays or meal vouchers.
A WestJet spokesperson, Ashley Tymko, confirmed the airline resumed operations and entered a recovery phase but advised passengers to check flight statuses carefully before arriving at airports.
Regulatory Protections and Airline Obligations
Under Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), labour disruptions like strikes are classified as situations outside the airline’s control. In such cases, airlines must offer passengers alternative travel arrangements within 48 hours of the original flight time. If rebooking on WestJet is not possible, passengers are entitled to a full refund or
bookings on competing carriers.
WestJet extended a flexible cancellation and change policy to flights departing through August 6, 2026, allowing customers a one-time fee waiver for modifications or cancellations made at least two hours before scheduled departures.
Operational Challenges in Network Recovery
Aviation management expert John Gradek from McGill University highlighted the complexity of recovering airline operations after a strike. Repositioning aircraft and crews takes days, not hours. He estimated that WestJet’s network might return to normal by Friday or Saturday following the strike, with full backlog clearance taking up to 10 days.
Gradek advised passengers not to cancel and rebook independently to avoid losing
protections under the APPR and to wait for airline rebooking notices while keeping all receipts. WestJet must honor obligations to transport stranded passengers, including using competitors if necessary, within the 48-hour window.
