WestJet began grounding 76 flights on July 31, 2026, at Toronto Pearson International Airport in advance of a potential strike by flight attendants scheduled to start August 2. The airline is parking Boeing 737 aircraft as a precaution against anticipated disruption from a looming labour dispute.
On July 30, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike notice to the airline. CUPE local 8125, led by President Alia Hussain, has not reached an agreement with WestJet in ongoing negotiations and is preparing for a possible strike deadline on Sunday, August 2,
2026.
Ongoing Negotiations and Official Statements
A WestJet 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 stated it remains active at the bargaining table to reach a mutually agreeable deal as soon as possible.
CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain commented, “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.”
Passenger Impact and Airline Advisories
The labour disruption is expected to affect travel plans
during the August long weekend. WestJet urges passengers to check their flight status due to the 76 flight cancellations on July 31 and the risk of further disruptions if the strike proceeds.
As of July 31, no agreement has been reached between WestJet and CUPE, prompting the airline to ground flights early to minimize potential passenger stranding.
