WestJet flight attendants went on strike around August 2, 2026, after the airline and their union could not reach an agreement. The union, CUPE 8125, had given 72 hours' notice on July 30 that they would strike. WestJet responded the same day with its own 72-hour notice that it might lock workers out (meaning the employer temporarily shuts workers out instead of waiting for them to leave). By the time the strike began, WestJet had already cancelled 309 flights through August 2, after starting an organized shutdown of its flight network the day before Reuters.

The path to the strike started weeks earlier. On July 9, 2026, WestJet flight attendants opened a vote on whether to strike, with voting lasting until July 15. They voted 99 per cent in favour. Nearly 4,400 flight attendants were eligible to walk off the job CUPE. After that vote, Canadian law required a 21-day waiting period (called a cooling-off period) before any strike could legally begin, which pushed the earliest strike date to August 2.

On July 30, CUPE 8125 issued its 72-hour strike notice. WestJet responded within hours with its own 72-hour lockout notice, which the airline said was to keep control of its operations WestJet. At that point, WestJet said it had not cancelled any flights and said talks were making progress Reuters.

That changed within 24 hours. WestJet started parking planes ahead of the possible walkout CBC. On August 1, the airline began shutting down its network, starting with 86 cancelled flights that Saturday and growing to 309 cancellations through Sunday as the strike deadline neared Reuters. The cancellations covered travel between July 30 and August 4 WestJet.

Even with the shutdown growing, WestJet said on August 1 it was still committed to reaching a deal and believed one was within reach WestJet. The airline published a facts-and-FAQs page about the negotiations to explain its side WestJet. Still, the two sides could not agree before the deadline.

The strike comes at the busiest part of Canada's summer travel season, making things harder for passengers. A CBC report showed that some affected travellers could face costs above $20,000 to rebook on other airlines CBC. A survey released July 29 found that Canadians strongly supported the flight attendants and their right to strike CUPE.

The broader context here is that Canada has a system of rules designed to slow down labour disputes and push both sides toward a deal. The 21-day waiting period after a strike vote, the 72-hour notice required before anyone can stop working, and the employer's matching lockout notice all act as guardrails meant to encourage last-minute agreements. Because both sides sent their notices on the same day, July 30, they were on a collision course toward August 2 unless a deal happened in between. WestJet's choice to start shutting down early, rather than wait for the legal strike deadline, reflects a practical decision: a planned, orderly cancellation is less costly and less chaotic than suddenly stopping with planes and crews stuck mid-route.

What is still unclear is how long the strike will last and how quickly WestJet can recover. The airline has not said how fast it could restart full operations after a deal is reached. Moving planes back into position and getting crew schedules running again will take time. Passengers with bookings after August 4 do not know whether more cancellations are coming. The 99 per cent strike vote gives the union strong bargaining power, but it also means members have high expectations for the final deal, which leaves less room for a compromise both sides can accept.