WestJet began grounding Boeing 737 aircraft and cancelling flights on August 1, 2026, after receiving a 72-hour strike notice from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on July 30. By 10:30 p.m. Mountain Time on July 31, the airline had cancelled 81 flights scheduled for the busy August long weekend. The grounding and cancellations are a preemptive move to address the potential work stoppage by WestJet flight attendants.
Union Representation and Negotiations
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants through local CUPE 8125, issued the strike notice after labour talks failed to yield an agreement. WestJet confirmed that negotiations
remain active but unresolved, stating, “At this time, negotiations have not resulted in an agreement and as a labour disruption approaches, WestJet must begin the difficult process of parking 737 aircraft.” The airline added it is working to reach a “mutually agreeable deal at the earliest possible time.”
CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain acknowledged partial progress in talks but said key issues require resolution at the bargaining table. She expressed hope to avert a strike, emphasizing the union’s commitment to continuing negotiations.
Traveler Impact Ahead of Strike Deadline
Passengers planning travel during the August long weekend face disruptions as WestJet continues to cancel flights and park
planes at Toronto Pearson International Airport and other hubs. The strike deadline is set for Sunday morning, August 2, 2026, if no deal is reached. A work stoppage by WestJet flight attendants could lead to hundreds of flight cancellations, affecting thousands of travelers.
WestJet advised travelers to check flight statuses before arriving at airports given the fluid situation. The airline’s grounding strategy aims to minimize passenger disruptions by managing capacity in advance of the possible strike.
