WestJet Strike Threat Raises Holiday Travel Concerns

A possible WestJet strike could hit Canadian holiday travel as early as Sunday morning, with flight attendants at the country’s second-largest airline preparing to walk off the job during the busy August long weekend. The WestJet strike threat comes as the carrier begins canceling flights and offering flexible options to passengers trying to get home or get away.

The union representing the airline’s cabin crew issued 72-hour strike notice earlier this week, setting a deadline of Sunday at 02:01 EST. That timing lands in the middle of a holiday period when airports are already packed. WestJet has moved to soften the blow by allowing free cancellations and flight changes for trips scheduled from Thursday through Tuesday.

At the center of the dispute is pay for work done before a plane leaves the gate. Flight attendants say they are expected to perform duties such as boarding, safety checks, helping passengers and handling delays without pay for as much as 35 hours each month. WestJet says its crew is paid under a block-hour system that begins when the aircraft departs the gate and ends when it reaches the next gate, and the airline says that approach is standard across North America. The carrier also says wages under its credit hour system include compensation for work done before takeoff and after landing.

Talks between WestJet and CUPE 8125 have been ongoing since September 2025. The union says the two sides remain too far apart on key issues, while its president, Alia Hussain, said the goal is to reach an agreement without disrupting air travel. Union members backed strike action by 99 percent last month, giving negotiators a strong mandate as the deadline approached.