WestJet Ends Strike After Reaching Tentative Deal With Flight Attendants' Union

WestJet has resumed operations after reaching a tentative agreement with the union representing its cabin crew, ending a strike that disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers across Canada over a busy summer long weekend.

The Calgary-based airline confirmed the deal with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing roughly 4,400 flight attendants at WestJet. The agreement, reached early Monday, centers on wage increases and compensation for ground duties, a longstanding industry flashpoint.

WestJet began pre-emptively cancelling flights Friday evening, starting an "organized take-down" of its network after last-minute talks failed. The union's 72-hour strike notice, issued July 30, set a legal strike position of 12:01am Sunday, August 2, when flight attendants formally walked off the job, beginning a stoppage that lasted three days. 

WestJet's running total reached 309 cancelled flights about 36 hours after the take-down began, and the airline cancelled 495 flights on Sunday alone. In all, roughly 250,000 travelers had their trips canceled, some struggling to find accommodations while stranded away from home.

What the Deal Includes

Neither side has disclosed the tentative agreement's terms, which now go to cabin crew for a ratification vote. 

The dispute echoed Air Canada's own three-day flight attendants' strike in August 2025, fought over the same core issue: pay for ground duties like boarding and safety checks, traditionally uncompensated under the industry's practice of paying only for time in the air. That dispute ended with Air Canada crew securing boarding pay climbing to 70% of their hourly rate for the hour before takeoff, and prompted Ottawa to launch an investigation into unpaid work across the sector. 

Operations Returning to Normal

WestJet began restoring its schedule but has not said when normal operations will fully resume; all flights out of Toronto Pearson remained cancelled as of Monday morning. 

Aircraft, crew, and support staff still need repositioning network-wide. WestJet is contacting affected passengers directly and has advised travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport.

Economic and Industry Impact

The stoppage carried real economic weight. WestJet is Canada's second-largest airline, operating more than 600 flights and carrying as many as 70,000 passengers a day, and disruption to its network affects business travel, tourism, and cargo movement nationally. Analysts had warned a prolonged strike could push travelers to competitors.

Federal officials weighed in at both ends of the dispute. As the strike began, Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu said she was disappointed no deal could be reached, reiterating that the strongest deals happen at the table, without saying whether Ottawa planned to intervene. 

Once the deal was struck, she confirmed it on social media, saying the federal government and Canadians welcome the news that the parties have reached a deal together, at the bargaining table.

The resolution fits a broader pattern of airline labor activism across North America, with cabin crews at several carriers winning improved contracts recently amid rising costs and growing scrutiny of unpaid ground work – Air Canada chief among them.

What Comes Next

Flight attendants vote on the tentative agreement in the coming weeks. If ratified, it will lock in wages and conditions for several years and set a benchmark for other Canadian carriers.

WestJet has been allowing passengers travelling between July 30 and August 4 to make a one-time change or cancellation with no fees, though only certain bookings qualify for refunds. The strike's end restores some stability to Canadian air travel, but the coming days will test how quickly WestJet can rebuild its schedule and win back passenger confidence.