WestJet Reaches Tentative Contract Agreement to End Flight Attendant Strike

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, August 4, 2026

WestJet and the union representing its 4,400 flight attendants reached a tentative contract agreement, ending a one-day strike that led to the cancellation of 645 flights across Canada. This deal addresses compensation and recognition concerns raised by flight attendants, though it still requires approval by union members before becoming final.

WestJet, one of Canada’s largest airlines, reached a tentative contract agreement early Monday with the union representing its 4,400 flight attendants, bringing an end to a one-day strike that disrupted hundreds of flights. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, confirmed that the strike had concluded and employees would return to work.

Alia Hussain, president of the local union chapter, described the tentative deal as “meaningful progress” and said it would provide better recognition and compensation for the work performed by cabin crews. Specific details of the agreement were not immediately disclosed, and the contract must still be approved by a vote of union members.

WestJet canceled 645 flights between Friday and Monday, impacting travel during a long weekend across most of Canada. While the airline’s busiest routes are domestic, flights to the United States, Europe, and Asia were also affected. At peak times, WestJet carries up to 70,000 passengers daily.

“Our teams are working hard to restore service and get our guests on their way to their destinations as quickly as possible, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we get back to normal,” WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement. He gave no timeline for when full service would be restored.

Flight attendants went on strike primarily over demands for higher wages and compensation for ground duties such as passenger boarding and safety presentations, which they said are currently unpaid. Picket lines were set up Sunday at major airports in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.

WestJet confirmed that all affected passengers would receive refunds or alternative travel arrangements. The airline, Canada’s second-largest carrier after Air Canada, was founded in 1996 as a low-cost carrier and now operates nearly 200 aircraft to more than 100 destinations. It has been owned by the Toronto-based private equity firm Onex Corporation since 2019.

The recent strike marks the second major labor disruption in Canadian air travel in the past year. Last summer, the federal government intervened with binding arbitration to end a strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants over similar compensation disputes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.