Operations at WestJet have faced widespread disruption as 4,400 cabin crew members represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125 officially walked off the job on August 2, 2026. According to AeroTime, the labor action follows 11 months of unsuccessful negotiations regarding a new collective agreement. The work stoppage has forced the airline to cancel more than 300 flights, with the carrier preemptively grounding parts of its Boeing 737 fleet to mitigate the impact of the walkout.

The core of the conflict lies in a dispute over compensation for duties performed outside of flight hours, specifically those tasks occurring before departure and after arrival. While the union maintains that these ground-based responsibilities are currently unpaid and require a new compensation structure, WestJet asserts that its existing model covers these activities. The airline noted that its final proposal included comprehensive pay for all pre- and post-flight work, alongside double-digit wage increases for the first year. CUPE leadership, however, rejected these terms, arguing they were insufficient to reflect the value of the crew's labor.

While the main fleet operations—including Boeing 737 and 787 services—are heavily impacted by the strike, WestJet stated that some segments of its network remain operational. Specifically, flights managed by WestJet Encore using De Havilland Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, as well as those serviced by codeshare partners, are continuing to run as scheduled. The situation remains fluid as both sides remain at an impasse regarding the modernization of cabin crew pay structures.