WestJet Grounds Planes Amid Potential Flight Attendant Strike

Approximately 4,400 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125 are poised for a strike as early as Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. MT. The dispute centers on wage rates and compensation for groundwork, with the union claiming attendants perform up to 35 hours of unpaid work monthly. WestJet maintains that its credit hour system adequately compensates these duties.

In response to a 72-hour strike notice issued by CUPE on July 30, WestJet issued a corresponding 72-hour lockout notice. To prevent crew and passengers from being stranded, the airline began parking Boeing 737 aircraft on July 31. The potential disruption affects mainline 737 and 787 jets, though WestJet Encore's Q400 flights and Delta Air Lines code-shares remain unaffected.

To mitigate the impact on an estimated 75,000 daily passengers, WestJet implemented a flexible policy allowing one-time changes or cancellations without fees for travel between July 30 and August 4. Both parties have signed an operational wind-down plan to safely return crew and guests home if a stoppage occurs. Despite the tension, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech and CUPE President Alia Hussain have both indicated that negotiations continue around the clock to reach a sustainable agreement before the long weekend deadline.