Flight attendants at Canada’s second-largest airline, West Jet, have gone on strike during one of the busiest summer holiday weekends in the country. The WestJet flight attendants strike has already led to significant disruption, with some 600 flights cancelled as of early Sunday morning, according to the airline.The industrial action centres on pay, specifically compensation for work flight attendants perform before the plane has taken off, known in the industry as ground pay.
Calgary-based WestJet, which flies to more than 130 Canadian and international destinations, says it remains at the table and committed to reaching a negotiated agreement that recognises the contributions and professionalism of its cabin crew. When Did the Strike Start? The union’s 72-hour strike notice expired Sunday at 02:01 EST (07:01 BST), in the middle of a long weekend across most of the country. The action follows a vote last month in which union members backed a strike mandate by 99 percent.The airline began parking flights on Friday in preparation, even as negotiations continued. Both sides remained in talks on Sunday even as the labour action got under way. Canada’s jobs minister, Patti Hajdu, called the strike a “disappointing development” in a statement on X on Sunday, urging both parties to keep working toward a deal. She did not indicate whether Ottawa would intervene to end the dispute, something it has done in the past, including during an Air Canada strike last year.
What Happens if Your Flight Is Cancelled?WestJet said on Sunday that all affected guests will be refunded or reaccommodated, as applicable, and has asked passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. WestJet Encore flights operated on a Q400 and WestJet codeshare flights will not be affected by any labour disruptions, the carrier said. Under Canadian airline passenger laws, carriers must rebook passengers on the next available flight, either within their own fleet or with a partner airline, and if neither is available, with a competitor. Canadian non-profit consumer group Air Passenger Rights says passenger entitlements depend on individual itineraries once a strike is under way.
Passengers can be rebooked free of charge on the next reasonable available flight with any carrier, including competitors, or can opt for a full refund if they choose not to travel. Airlines are also required to fly passengers back to their point of origin at no cost. The group cautioned, however, that passengers who pre-emptively rebook or cancel flights out of concern over disruption may not be entitled to certain compensation. Stranded passengers are entitled to some compensation for delays within the airline’s control that are unrelated to safety.
Why WestJet Flight Attendants Are Striking Flight attendants and WestJet have been engaged in contract negotiations since September 2025. Alia Hussain, president of the CUPE 8125 union representing the workers, said the union had been clear about what needs to change and had worked hard to reach a fair deal, adding that its goal was to secure an agreement without disrupting air travel. The union’s website displayed a counter on Sunday showing that WestJet cabin crew had gone 213 days without a valid collective agreement.
Pay has been the central sticking point. The union says flight attendants are expected to work without pay for up to 35 hours per month on duties performed while the plane has not yet taken off, including boarding, safety sweeps, assisting passengers, and ground delays.
WestJet, for its part, says its flight attendants are paid using a block-hour system, which begins when the plane leaves the gate and ends when it arrives at the next gate, a model the airline describes as standard practice for cabin crews across North America. The airline said wages under its credit-hour system include compensation for work carried out before takeoff and landing.
