More than 4,400 cabin crew members have launched strike action after nearly 11 months of contract negotiations, forcing WestJet to cancel hundreds of flights across its network.
WestJet flight attendants officially went on strike on August 2, 2026, after negotiations between the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125 failed to produce a new collective agreement.
The strike involves approximately 4,400 cabin crew members and has already disrupted WestJet operations, with more than 300 flights canceled. Before the strike began, the airline had started grounding parts of its Boeing 737 fleet in an effort to reduce operational disruption and avoid stranding passengers and aircraft.
“We tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do,” said CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain. “WestJet’s offer did not go far enough.”
At the center of the dispute is how flight attendants are compensated for duties performed before departure and after arrival. The union argues that these responsibilities remain unpaid under the current system, while WestJet says they are already covered through its existing compensation model. According to the airline, its latest proposal included pay for all pre-flight and post-flight duties, as well as a double-digit wage increase during the first year of the agreement.
The airline said Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 services are affected by the strike, while WestJet Encore flights operated by De Havilland Dash 8 Q400 aircraft and codeshare services operated by partner airlines continue to operate as scheduled.
The labor dispute follows months of negotiations and comes amid broader efforts by cabin crew unions across North America to secure compensation for duties performed on the ground in addition to time spent in flight.