WestJet is still cancelling multiple flights across Canada on August 5, 2026, as it recovers from a one-day strike by its flight attendants that ended on August 3 with a tentative agreement reached between WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 8125).
Data from Cirium showed that 16 WestJet flights scheduled for August 4 had been cancelled by 11 a.m. Eastern time, following more than 300 cancellations on August 3, which represented roughly 62% of the airline’s scheduled flights that day. The airline is now operating in a recovery phase with ongoing cancellations and delays expected to affect
passengers in the coming days.
Flexible Cancellation Policy and Passenger Advisories
WestJet extended its flexible cancellation policy to cover flights up to and including August 6, 2026. Under this policy, guests on eligible WestJet and partner airline flights can make a one-time change or cancellation without incurring fees if done at least two hours before the original departure time. Additionally, passengers with disrupted flights are allowed to cancel their bookings at any time without penalty.
The airline advises passengers to monitor their flight statuses before travelling to the airport and to await rebooking notices issued by WestJet to maintain their rights under the Canadian Air Passenger
Protection Regulations.
Stranded Passengers and Service Challenges
Passengers have reported difficulties in reaching WestJet after cancellations. Canadian traveler Marsha Manuel described being stranded in Lisbon, Portugal, after her flight to Miramichi, New Brunswick, was cancelled. She noted receiving cancellation notice with a promised rebooking within two hours, which did not occur, and expressed frustration with the lack of hotel accommodations or meal vouchers provided by the airline during the delay.
Manuel’s experience reflects broader challenges faced by passengers during the disruption, including those stranded in Copenhagen, Denmark with scout groups managed by Ryan O’Keefe and Kevin Gleeton, as rebooking and accommodations remain limited.
Operational Challenges Delaying Full Network Recovery
To manage
the strike, WestJet repositioned aircraft and crews, including parking an unspecified number of Boeing 737 aircraft in storage ahead of the labour action. This repositioning complicates the airline’s ongoing restoration of its schedule, requiring days rather than hours to normalize operations.
John Gradek, an aviation management expert at McGill University, projected that WestJet’s network would not resemble normal operations until around August 7 or 8, with a backlog before full recovery lasting seven to ten days. Peak summer travel has added pressure, as many still-operating flights are fully booked, limiting options for displaced passengers.
Union and Official Statements on Strike Resolution
The Canadian Union of Public Employees
local representing WestJet flight attendants, CUPE 8125, confirmed the tentative agreement on August 3, resulting in flight attendants returning to work. WestJet stated it is “resuming operations and entering the recovery phase following a labour disruption,” urging passengers to verify flight statuses before their departure.
Gradek emphasized the airline’s obligation under Canadian regulations to rebook affected passengers within 48 hours, including purchasing seats on competitors if required. He advised passengers to avoid canceling or rebooking on their own in order to maintain their rights under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
Airport Impact and Passenger Rights
The Greater Moncton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport and Fredericton International
Airport in New Brunswick experienced some cancellations on August 3 and 4 due to the strike, but WestJet flights at both airports operated on time on August 4. The airline is providing meal vouchers and accommodations to passengers where cancellations occur as per regulatory requirements.
Under Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations, passengers affected by strike-related cancellations causing delays of three or more hours are eligible for compensation and must be offered alternative travel within 48 hours. This includes rebooking on other airlines and possibly departing from alternative nearby airports if necessary.
WestJet initially reported that 250,000 guests over the August
long weekend had travel plans disrupted due to the strike and associated cancellations. The airline has pledged refunds or reaccommodations for passengers impacted by strike-related changes.
