WestJet began grounding Boeing 737 aircraft on July 31, 2026, as a potential strike by its flight attendants approaches. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, issued an official 72-hour strike notice on July 30, 2026, raising the prospect of a work stoppage starting Sunday morning, August 2, 2026.
By 10:30 p.m. Mountain Time on July 31, at least 81 WestJet flights scheduled for August 1, 2026, were cancelled due to the grounding. The airline advised passengers to verify the status of their scheduled flights before proceeding to airports such as Toronto Pearson International Airport
to avoid travel disruptions.
>Ongoing Labour Negotiations and Strike Deadline
Labour talks between WestJet and CUPE have not produced an agreement, forcing WestJet to park aircraft to prevent stranding passengers. CUPE’s flight attendants remain active in negotiations, with a strike looming if no resolution is found by Sunday morning.
CUPE, which represents the airline’s 4,400 flight attendants, delivered the 72-hour strike notice on July 30. The strike deadline is set for Sunday, August 2, 2026, unless a deal is reached earlier.
>Official Statements from WestJet and CUPE
WestJet stated: “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 remains “active at the bargaining table to achieve a mutually agreeable deal at the earliest possible time.”
Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said the union has “made some progress” in talks but acknowledged unresolved issues must be settled at the table. She added the union hopes to avoid a strike while remaining committed to negotiations.
>Potential Travel Disruptions During the August Long Weekend
If the strike commences on August 2, hundreds of additional flight cancellations are expected during the Canadian August long weekend. WestJet’s proactive grounding of aircraft starting July 31 aims to manage passenger travel and minimize the impact
of an unexpected labour disruption ahead of the holiday weekend.
Passengers intending to travel on WestJet flights during this period are urged to monitor flight statuses carefully to adjust plans accordingly.
