WestJet flight attendants have gone on strike during one of the busiest summer travel weekends in Canada, with 309 flights cancelled as of early Sunday morning and the disruption expected to extend through Tuesday. The walkout began at 2:01am ET on Sunday after a 72-hour notice period expired, following a union vote in which members backed strike action by 99%.
The strike centres on a single core dispute: flight attendants are currently not compensated for work performed before an aircraft leaves the gate — a period that can include boarding, safety sweeps, assisting passengers, and waiting out ground delays. The union says this unpaid time can add up to 35 hours per month.
“Boarding, safety sweeps, assisting passengers, and ground delays are entirely on our dime,” cabin crew said in union materials promoting the action. CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain said the union had worked hard to reach a fair agreement without disrupting air travel. “We have been clear about what needs to change.”
WestJet has rejected that characterisation of the pay structure. The airline says its flight attendants are compensated through a block-hours system — the standard model across North American carriers — in which pay begins when the aircraft leaves the gate and ends when it arrives. WestJet says wages under this system are calibrated to include compensation for pre-departure and post-arrival work. Cabin crew currently earn between CAD$28 and CAD$58 per hour under that model.
Contract negotiations between WestJet and CUPE 8125 began in September 2025 — 213 days before the strike started, according to the union’s own countdown. The airline says it “remains at the table and committed to achieving a negotiated tentative agreement.”
What Passengers Need to Know
WestJet began parking aircraft on Friday in preparation for the strike and is offering free cancellations and flight changes for passengers booked on flights between Thursday and Tuesday. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
WestJet Encore flights operated by Q400 aircraft and WestJet codeshare flights are not affected by the labour action. For passengers whose flights are cancelled, Canadian aviation law requires carriers to rebook them on the next available flight from their own fleet or a partner airline first. If neither option is available, the carrier must rebook passengers on a competitor.
Calgary-based WestJet serves more than 130 domestic and international destinations. As Canada’s second-largest airline, a sustained strike carries significant consequences for summer travel across the country.
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