The operations of WestJet has been suspended due to a labor dispute effective immediately, Sunday, August 2, 2026, which has caused a major widespread disruption in commercial aviation across Canada — and with the exception of flights that are operated by WestJet Encore, it means that no flights are scheduled at this time until further notice.
WestJet Operations Suspended Due to Labor Dispute: August 2026 Travel Alert
The following message is currently at the official Internet web site of WestJet, which is technically in effect until Wednesday, August 5, 2026:
Although we have taken every reasonable step to prevent this labour disruption involving WestJet cabin crew, WestJet flights have been suspended effective August 2, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. MT. WestJet Encore flights continue to operate. We remain committed to reaching a resolution. For the most up to date information on the ongoing negotiations with WestJet cabin crew, see cabin crew negotiation updates.
We sincerely apologize for the disruption this is causing to your travel plans.
Flights have been proactively canceled by the second largest airline in Canada prior to today in anticipation of the strike by members of flight crews during one of the busiest travel periods in the country; and airplanes within the Boeing 737 fleet have been parked.
Negotiations between WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees — which represents approximately 4,400 members of cabin crews — have been unsuccessful despite ongoing contract talks since late 2025. One of the most significant unresolved issues is compensation for tasks performed prior to takeoff — including boarding passengers and completing safety procedures as two of many examples.
CUPE 8125 WestJet flight attendants have officially gone on strike.
“We tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do,” said Alia Hussain, CUPE 8125 President. “WestJet’s offer did not go far enough.”
“We are on strike because we believe we deserve better. We are ready to go back to the table to settle. We hope the federal government will not interfere and will let the bargaining process run its course. Unpaid work is a big piece of our priorities, but we are bargaining a comprehensive contract.”
“We would not be here if they had taken our concerns seriously for almost eleven months of bargaining.”
WestJet is required to attempt to rebook affected travelers under the rules in Canada that protects passengers — including rebooking them on competing airlines when necessary.
In addition to retroactive wage payment through Thursday, January 1, 2026, the airline has reportedly offered to members of its cabin crews the following proposed increases in wages and meal allowance per diem:
- 13.0 percent increase effective as of Thursday, October 1, 2026
- 2.5 percent increase effective as of Friday, January 1, 2027
- 2.5 percent increase effective as of Saturday, January 1, 2028
- 2.5 percent increase effective as of Monday, January 1, 2029
- Payment for all hours on duty — including those hours which were previously unpaid — which is equivalent to an additional increase in salary of twelve percent
Other incentives that were supposedly offered include the following:
- $300.00 in spending on health per year with a Healthcare Spending Account
- Fifth week of vacation at 25 years of service
- Maternity leave top-up to 17 weeks postpartum
- New flexible part-time program with a reduced block
- Significant scheduling and improvements of quality of life — including:
- One additional hour of rest at home base
- Increase to minimum rest away from base of one hour
- Out-of-base partial shift trades
- Premium payment when reassigned to an uncovered flight at a base
- Reduced duty day maximum when working a minimum of three flight segments
- Payment when members of flight crews are faced with a delay accessing a hotel room during a layover
The proposal was rejected by members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Both sides of this dispute are still willing to continue negotiations.
To help ease and alleviate the disruption in commercial aviation in Canada, Air Canada has offered to accommodate customers of WestJet:
- If you have not yet been rebooked by WestJet:
- You will need to contact WestJet directly.
- You can purchase a ticket with Air Canada.
- If WestJet has rebooked you on an Air Canada flight:
- Dedicated check-in counters are available at the airport for WestJet customers who were rebooked on a flight that is operated by Air Canada.
- You can change your booking from the Trips tab at the official Internet web site of Air Canada. You will find product information and self-service tools — including the option to select your seats and check in for your flight within 24 hours of travel.
Final Boarding Call
Despite being an official partner with WestJet, Delta Air Lines has not issued any advisories pertaining to the labor dispute at the time this article was written.
Hopefully, this issue will be resolved as soon as possible and commercial aviation in Canada can return back to normal operations — but a disruptive labor dispute was certainly not the way WestJet intended to celebrate 30 years in business in 2026.
You can read about my first experience as a passenger with WestJet in this article.
All photographs ©2017 and ©2022 by Brian Cohen.
