WestJet strike cancels hundreds of flights across Canada
Around 4,400 flight attendants at WestJet, Canada’s second‑largest airline, began a 72‑hour strike on the night of 2 August 2026 after collective‑bargaining talks with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) failed. The dispute centres on pay for ground duties performed before take‑off and after landing, which the union says are unpaid, while WestJet argues they are covered by a “credit‑hour” system and its latest offer includes a double‑digit salary increase in the first year.
The industrial action forced WestJet to cancel more than 300 scheduled flights, with the airline later reporting about 600 cancellations by Sunday morning. Boeing 737 and 787 services were most affected, while WestJet Encore Q400 flights and code‑share services continued largely unchanged. Passengers were offered refunds or re‑booking on the next available flight, and Canada’s jobs minister Patti Hajdu described the strike as a “disappointing development.” Negotiations remain ongoing.
The strike has disrupted travel for thousands of passengers during one of the busiest summer holiday periods, affecting routes to major destinations such as Toronto and Cancun.
Entities: Alia Hussain · Calgary · Canadian Union of Public Employees · Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) · Canadian passengers · Cancun International Airport · Patti Hajdu · WestJet · WestJet Ltd.
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] WestJet cancelled more than 300 flights because of the strike. (flight cancellations)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants went on strike. (WestJet strike participants)
- [● 2 SOURCES] WestJet Encore Q400 and code‑share flights continued operating despite the strike. (service continuity)
- [● 2 SOURCES] WestJet’s latest offer included a double‑digit salary increase in the first year. (company offer)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Canada’s jobs minister Patti Hajdu called the strike a “disappointing development”. (government comment)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The strike began on the night of 2 August 2026. (strike start date)
- [● 2 SOURCES] WestJet cancelled about 600 flights by Sunday morning. (flight cancellations)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The dispute centers on payment for ground duties performed before and after flights. (cause of strike)