Deadline nears on WestJet flight attendants strike threat

WestJet and its flight attendants union are continuing their contract talks as the clock ticks closer to a possible strike.

If a deal has not been reached by Sunday morning, either side could begin a work stoppage that would see hundreds of flights cancelled during a long weekend in much of the country.

Read more:

• WestJet flight attendants’ union serves airline 72-hour strike notice
• WestJet passengers should know their rights as strike looms, expert says
• Were you planning to fly WestJet? What you need to know about the looming strike

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 4,400 flight attendants at WestJet, triggered a 72-hour countdown that ends on Sunday just after midnight in Calgary, where Canada’s second-largest airline is headquartered.

WestJet responded with a lockout notice on the same time frame.

The company has not disclosed how many flights have been cancelled in anticipation of a strike or lockout, but it is standard practice for airlines to wind down flight schedules ahead of a deadline so that planes and crews are not left scrambling to return.

Ahead of the potential strike, WestJet has been allowing passengers travelling between July 30 and Aug. 4 to make a one-time change or cancellation with no fees. Ticket holders given notice of a cancellation due to the strike are eligible for refunds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2026.