Story updated with additional details of WestJet’s grounding due to the strike.
WestJet grounded its fleet overnight after flight attendants walked off the job.
“We’re disappointed to be here,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, in a statement. “This directly impacts the travel plans of our guests, our WestJetters and the communities and businesses we serve. Our focus remains on staying available for the union to reach an agreement.”
Canada’s second-largest airline cancelled 496 flights on Sunday — it’s full schedule — data from flight tracking website FlightAware shows.
Flights flown by WestJet’s regional affiliate, WestJet Encore, continue to operate. Encore flies 35 de Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400s from bases at YYC and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
All customers affected by the shutdown will be refunded or reaccommodated, WestJet said.
Air Canada said it is working to accommodate WestJet travelers “wherever possible” and has set up dedicated check-in desks for WestJet customers at airports.
Porter Airlines is adding extra flights on three routes to assist WestJet fliers, including from Toronto to YYC, Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ).
Neither Air Canada nor Porter indicated offering special fares for affected WestJet fliers.
In the U.S., WestJet serves 27 destinations, schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) are its largest American gateways by departures.
WestJet is a close partner of Delta Air Lines.
Why flight attendants are on strike
The main disagreement between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents flight attendants at WestJet, and the airline is over pay. The union demands crew members be paid for all time worked, including time on the ground with the door open.
Few flight attendants are paid for time on the ground when the door is open, including the time spent at the airport, boarding and deplaning. Air Canada began paying its cabin crew members for boarding time in 2025 after a three-day strike, and in 2022, Delta began paying its flight attendants half their hourly rate for boarding.
WestJet said in a statement that it offered flight attendants wage increases of more than 20% through 2029, a “pay premium” for all duty hours — including those during boarding and at the airport — equivalent to 12% of total annual pay, plus additional quality of life improvements.
“WestJet’s offer did not go far enough,” said Alia Hussain, president of the CUPE chapter that includes the airline’s cabin crew, in a statement.
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