Thousands of travellers across Canada and the United States are facing disruption after WestJet flight attendants went on strike, forcing the airline to cancel hundreds of flights during one of the busiest weekends of the summer travel season. The strike began after contract negotiations between Canada’s second-largest airline and the union representing about 4,400 flight attendants failed to produce a new collective agreement.
WestJet said it had cancelled hundreds of flights ahead of the walkout to reduce disruption to passengers.
The dispute centres largely on pay and compensation for work carried out before and after flights. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents WestJet’s cabin crew, says flight attendants are not paid for significant parts of their working day, including preparing aircraft, boarding passengers and duties performed before departure and after arrival.
The union is seeking compensation from check-in until the end of a shift, rather than only for the time an aircraft is in operation.
Before the strike deadline, CUPE said negotiations would continue until the last possible moment. “There’s still time to avoid a strike… We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved,” union officials said on 30 July, adding they were looking forward to “further discussions” with the airline.
The union’s WestJet Component website later updated the status of the industrial action to “On Strike” after no agreement was reached.
What Has WestJet Said?
WestJet said it had offered what it described as an “industry-leading agreement”, including wage increases and expanded pay for work performed before and after flights.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the airline said it had cancelled flights in advance of the strike “to ensure the integrity of WestJet’s network, and to minimize the risk of stranding guests and aircraft.”
Chief Executive Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline had proposed a deal that would have made WestJet the first Canadian airline to compensate cabin crew for all working time before and after flights.
“We presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada, making WestJet the only airline to offer an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one among other priorities the union raised,” he said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted.”
Alia Hussain, president of the union chapter representing the airline’s flight attendants, said negotiators had “tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do.”
“WestJet’s offer did not go far enough,” she said.
Which Flights Have Been Affected?
WestJet said it had cancelled 309 flights through Sunday night as it attempted to manage the disruption. Many of the affected services are expected to involve the airline’s Boeing 737 fleet, which operates much of its domestic and international network.
Flights through major Canadian hubs, including Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Regina and Saskatoon, may be affected.
Services between Canada and US destinations such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Orlando and New York could also face disruption, depending on aircraft and crew availability.
The airline said WestJet Encore regional services and many codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, including Delta Air Lines, are not expected to be directly affected.
What Should Passengers Do?
WestJet said affected passengers would be eligible for refunds or rebooking where possible. The airline has also introduced flexible travel arrangements allowing customers booked to travel between 30 July and 4 August to make a one-time change or cancellation without additional fees.
Passengers have been advised to:
- Check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.
- Monitor email and text notifications from WestJet.
- Review refund and rebooking options online.
- Contact their travel agent if the booking was made through a third party.
- Consider alternative airlines if travel is urgent.
Air Canada said it was also working with WestJet to accommodate some affected passengers where seats are available.
Will the Strike Continue?
Negotiations between the airline and the union remain ongoing, with both sides indicating they are willing to return to the bargaining table.
Canada’s labour minister described the strike as disappointing but said he remained hopeful that an agreement could still be reached through negotiations.