WestJet began parking 76 aircraft on July 31, 2026, in preparation for a potential strike by its flight attendants as a 72-hour strike notice issued by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) expires Sunday morning, August 2, in Calgary. The union represents 4,400 WestJet flight attendants. WestJet issued a lockout notice matching the same timeframe. A work stoppage starting early Sunday could cause hundreds of flight cancellations during the August long weekend in Canada.
Ongoing Negotiations and Unresolved Issues
WestJet continues bargaining with CUPE to reach a new contract but has not resolved key issues, including compensation for work performed on the ground. CUPE
8125 President Alia Hussain stated the union remains committed to negotiating and hopes to avoid a strike. WestJet acknowledged negotiations have not yielded an agreement and began parking 737 aircraft to prepare for the approaching labour disruption.
Passenger Reactions and Flexibility Policies
Passengers traveling between July 30 and August 4 can make one free change or cancel flights without fees, while those affected by strike-related cancellations will be eligible for refunds. Gord Garwood, flying from Vancouver to Toronto, expressed concerns about his return trip in 10 days, saying, “Maybe it’ll get cancelled, maybe not. Fingers crossed.” Callie Adams, flying to Mexico from Toronto, said she
would notify work if her return flight is cancelled. Another passenger, Corey Vahrmeyer, traveling to Vancouver, described recent flying experiences as chaotic and hopes the strike does not disrupt his cousin’s wedding.
Operational Impact and Routes Unaffected
The grounding affects WestJet’s mainline fleet, with 76 aircraft parked starting July 31. WestJet Encore flights operated by Q400 aircraft and codeshare flights managed by partner airlines are not impacted. The airline operates more than 600 flights daily, carrying over 70,000 passengers some days, and disruption during the peak August long weekend could affect travel across key airports including Calgary, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Vancouver.
Official Responses and Airport Advisories
WestJet’s spokesperson
said, “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 also affirmed it remains active at the bargaining table to reach a mutually agreeable deal. CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain stated, “We have made some progress, and the issues remaining need to be resolved at the table. We are hopeful that we can still avoid a strike and remain committed to resolving this there.” Toronto Pearson International Airport acknowledged the strike and lockout notices and urged travelers to verify flight information
before traveling to the airport.
Context of Labour Disputes and Regulatory Involvement
The current strike risk follows a similar dispute involving ground compensation that triggered an Air Canada flight attendants work stoppage less than a year ago. In that instance, the Canada Industrial Relations Board imposed binding arbitration to end the disruption. The early cancellation and grounding measures by WestJet are standard to prevent stranding crew and passengers during potential labour actions, especially during the critical August long weekend travel period.
