WestJet and Union Reach Tentative Deal to End Strike

A WestJet Boeing 737-800 aircraft takes off from Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on July 31, 2026. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

WestJet and the union representing some 4,200 flight attendants reached a tentative agreement during the early morning hours of Aug. 3, bringing an end to a day-long strike that brought hundreds of flights to a standstill.

The tentative deal means both the union’s strike notice and the company’s lockout notice have been rescinded, allowing flight attendants to resume their duties, WestJet announced in a press release.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said the proposed agreement was achieved through collective bargaining at the negotiating table.

“This tentative agreement represents meaningful progress,” CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain said in a union press release. “We will now present the agreement to our members for their review and ratification vote.”

Flight attendants walked off the job on Aug. 2, after failing to reach a new contract with the airline, leading WestJet to cancel all flights over the Civic Holiday long weekend.

WestJet has not provided a timeline for the resumption of its regular operations and schedule. CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the company would share details as they became available.

“We know this disruption has been frustrating for our guests and WestJetters and we’re sorry for that,” von Hoensbroech said in the company’s press release. “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.”

All WestJet flights out of the Toronto Pearson International Airport remained cancelled this morning, according to a statement by the airport.

A post on WestJet’s travel advisories page indicated a gradual resumption of operations.

“The impact of recent labour disruptions on our scheduled flights means that a full return to normal operations will take time,” the post said. “As we resume flying and repositioning our aircraft and crews, some flights may continue to be disrupted.”

Deal Details

The union has listed unpaid work for ground duties as a major issue at the bargaining table. WestJet has said all duties were compensated through a “credit hour” system rather than an hourly rate.

Hussain said the tentative deal addresses that issue by introducing a duty period premium that recognizes more of the work flight attendants are required to perform and increases compensation for that work.

“It evolves the flight credit system by recognizing more of the work cabin crew are required to perform and with general increases to compensation for that work,” he said.

WestJet did not offer details on the deal, but von Hoensbroech said the airline is “pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that reflects the hard work and professionalism of our cabin crew.”

Contract talks had been ongoing between the Calgary-based airline and the CUPE WestJet Component since January with the credit system being the main issue.

The union said that an average of 35 hours per month remain unpaid due to the credit system under the old contract. The company said flight attendants actually received a higher wage under this compensation framework.

WestJet’s flight attendants provided a 72-hour strike notice on July 30 after the two sides failed to agree on the issue, which prompted the airline to issue a matching 72-hour lockout notice. The one-day strike occurred after the parties failed to reach an agreement by the Aug. 2 12 a.m. deadline.

Similar job action occurred last summer after the same issue sparked a strike by more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.