WestJet flight attendants and their union have issued a strike notice with a 72-hour deadline starting early Thursday morning, prompting the airline to respond with a 72-hour lockout notice. The potential strike could begin as early as August 2 at 2:01 a.m. EST if talks fail to produce an agreement.
Flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are demanding compensation from the time employees check in until they clock out, rather than pay based only on credit hours for flight time. CUPE also seeks higher wages, citing financial challenges faced by younger crew members in expensive
cities like Toronto. The pay dispute largely centers on unpaid work during ground delays.
WestJet operates more than 600 flights daily, accounting for roughly 30% of Canada’s domestic air travel market. Aviation analyst John Gradek estimates that up to 75,000 passengers could be affected by cancellations if the strike leads to widespread shutdowns during the upcoming long holiday weekend. In response, WestJet announced a flexible change and cancellation policy between July 30 and August 4, allowing travelers to cancel or reschedule their flights at no cost to minimize disruption.
Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet Group, emphasized the company’s regret
over the inconvenience caused by the lockout but said the decision was necessary to protect the network’s integrity and avoid stranding passengers, crew, and aircraft. “The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union, was not one that was made lightly,” he stated. Alia Hussain, president of the local CUPE union, reiterated the union’s desire to avoid a strike and reach a fair deal, also asking the Canadian government to refrain from intervening in negotiations.
These labor tensions follow a similar disruption in August 2025, when Air Canada flight attendants went on strike
for four days. That strike grounded approximately 700 flights daily, affecting around 500,000 passengers, and required United Airlines to assist stranded travelers. The Canadian government intervened in that dispute but WestJet’s current negotiations remain ongoing without government interference.
WestJet clarified that its WestJet Encore flights operating on Q400 aircraft, as well as codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, are not expected to be impacted if a strike occurs. Passengers who booked directly with WestJet will receive notices of changes by email, while those who booked through travel agents must coordinate changes with those agents. The airline commits to refunding or
reaccommodating affected travelers in case of cancellations or delays.
