WestJet has canceled 76 flights as of July 30, 2026, following a 72-hour strike notice from Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, which represents 4,400 WestJet flight attendants. The union signaled plans to strike as early as 2 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (midnight Mountain Time) on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Shortly after the union’s strike notice, WestJet issued a 72-hour lockout notice to its cabin crew employees, also effective Sunday, August 2, 2026. The airline cited operational concerns and expressed regret over the inconvenience to passengers resulting from the lockout announcement.
The strike notice and subsequent lockout stem
from an impasse in contract negotiations focused mainly on compensation for unpaid ground work. CUPE Local 8125 has sought contract improvements for flight attendants comparable to those achieved by Air Canada’s flight attendants in their four-year agreement signed last summer.
Travelers should expect disruptions and cancellations around the Civic Holiday weekend. WestJet has implemented Flexible Change and Cancel policies for travel bookings between July 30 and August 4, 2026, to accommodate passengers affected by the evolving dispute. Passengers are advised to verify the status of their flights prior to departure.
Alia Hussain, President of CUPE Local 8125, stated, “The strike
notice does not mean flight attendants want to go on strike. We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved.” WestJet Group CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech acknowledged the lockout notice’s impact, saying, “The decision to issue a lockout notice… was not one that was made lightly. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests.” A spokesperson for Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged both parties to reach an agreement at the bargaining table.
Earlier in July 2026, CUPE Local 8125 members voted 99.4 percent in favor of authorizing strike action. Their
contract demands include compensation for unpaid ground work hours, similar to Air Canada flight attendants’ deal, which provides a two percent wage increase annually and compensation for the first hour of ground waiting time starting at 50 percent of hourly wage in year one, increasing to 80 percent by year four.
The union claims WestJet flight attendants work on average 35 unpaid hours monthly, while WestJet defends its credit hour pay system that combines flight time, ground duties, and delays into a single rate credited across full shifts.
Pre-emptive flight cancellations are intended to prevent aircraft and crew from becoming
stranded at remote destinations, with the airline prioritizing cancellations on flights to longer haul routes from its Calgary hub.
The federal government has shown readiness to intervene in labour disputes, encouraging voluntary resolution. Analysts note any strike would likely prompt prompt government action to minimize travel disruptions, urging both sides to finalize their negotiations quickly.
