WestJet Faces Potential Cabin Crew Strike Ahead of Busy Holiday Travel Weekend
Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, is facing the possibility of significant travel disruption after its flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice, raising concerns for passengers travelling during the country’s busy August holiday weekend.
The notice, issued by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, means industrial action could begin as early as 2 August if ongoing contract negotiations fail to produce an agreement. The union represents approximately 4,400 cabin crew members.
At the heart of the dispute is compensation for work performed before and after flights, including boarding passengers, safety checks and delays. The union argues that cabin crew should be paid for all hours worked, while WestJet maintains these duties are already covered under its current “credit hour” pay system.
In response to the strike notice, WestJet has also issued a 72-hour lockout notice, a procedural step under Canadian labour law. The airline says operations continue as normal for now and remains optimistic that a negotiated settlement can be reached before any disruption occurs.
Should the dispute remain unresolved, thousands of travellers could be affected. WestJet operates more than 600 flights daily, carrying around 75,000 passengers, making any work stoppage particularly disruptive during one of Canada’s busiest travel periods. However, flights operated by WestJet Encore and Delta Air Lines under codeshare agreements are not expected to be impacted.
Negotiations between both parties are continuing with the assistance of federal mediators, as travellers await clarity on whether the airline can avoid another major labour disruption during the peak summer travel season.
