WestJet and its flight attendants reached a tentative deal Monday to end the strike.
Why it matters: The agreement could quickly ease weekend travel disruptions and restore more normal operations at WestJet. It also underscores how pay for all duties, including unpaid ground work, remains a flashpoint in airline labor talks.
- WestJet and CUPE 8125 reached a tentative agreement on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.
- The union represents about 4,400 WestJet flight attendants.
- The strike began Sunday, Aug. 2, after a legal strike window opened.
- AP reported the walkout had already caused hundreds of cancellations and stranded thousands of passengers.
WestJet and CUPE 8125 reached a tentative agreement Monday to end a strike by about 4,400 flight attendants, according to AP.
The union said its members would return to work after the deal is ratified. WestJet warned travelers on its disruption page that service changes were affecting operations as the strike played out.
The walkout began Sunday and quickly hit the airline's schedule, with hundreds of cancellations and thousands of stranded passengers over the weekend, AP reported. WestJet said the dispute centered on the contract for its mainline cabin crew, and the company said bargaining had been underway since September 2025.
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the agreement reflects the work and professionalism of cabin crew. In a statement on the airline's labor update page, WestJet said the previous contract expired at the end of 2025 and that the tentative deal still needs ratification.
The dispute highlights a broader aviation labor issue: compensation for all duties, including work performed before takeoff and after landing. For WestJet, the immediate business question is how quickly it can clear the weekend backlog and return to normal flying.
By the numbers
- 4,400 - WestJet flight attendants represented by CUPE 8125.
- Hundreds - flight cancellations AP reported during the strike.
- Thousands - passengers AP reported were stranded over the weekend.
Yes, but: The tentative deal still needs ratification before the strike is fully over.
What's next: CUPE 8125 members are expected to vote on ratification, and WestJet will work to restore normal operations.