WestJet Strike Cancels 309 Flights as 4,400 Attendants Walk Out August 2

Flight attendants at WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, went on strike Sunday after negotiations failed. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 cabin crew, walked out at 2:01 a.m. EST on August 2. WestJet canceled 309 flights, stranding 250,000 passengers during a busy holiday weekend. The dispute centers on pay for ground work before planes take off, which the union says is unpaid.

What the strike is about

Flight attendants want hourly pay for all work from check-in to clock-out. Currently, WestJet uses a “credit hour” system that does not compensate ground duties. The union says some of that work goes unpaid. CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech offered an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one. Alia Hussain, union president, said the offer “did not go far enough.”

Scale of flight cancellations

WestJet began parking planes Friday, canceling 80 flights by Friday evening. By Saturday at 11 a.m., 86 flights were canceled. By Sunday morning, the total reached 309 canceled flights. The airline operates Boeing 737s and 787s on domestic routes, all grounded during the strike. WestJet Encore flights on Q400 aircraft and codeshare flights with partners remain unaffected. The airline is offering free rebooking and refunds to affected passengers.

What passengers must do

Canadian airline law requires carriers to rebook passengers on the next available flight from their own fleet or a partner airline. If neither is available, passengers must be rebooked with a competitor. WestJet is contacting passengers booked directly via email. Those who booked through travel agents or third-party platforms must contact those vendors. Passengers can request free cancellations and schedule changes for flights through Tuesday.

Union and company both open to talks

Both sides said they remain willing to negotiate. The union gave 72 hours’ notice on Thursday, triggering the strike window. WestJet issued a lockout notice in response. Last year, Air Canada flight attendants struck for four days during peak summer, stranding over 100,000 travelers before the Canadian government intervened. The WestJet union said it hopes the federal government will not interfere and will let bargaining run its course.

Final Thoughts

The strike hits WestJet during peak summer travel, affecting a quarter-million passengers. Both sides say they are ready to negotiate, but the gap on ground pay compensation remains unresolved. The dispute reflects broader efforts by cabin crews across North America to challenge pay structures that exclude ground work.

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