WestJet Grounds Flights as Flight Attendants Strike Over Pay

WestJet grounded its entire fleet on September 2, 2024, after flight attendants commenced a strike, leading to widespread flight cancellations across Canada's second-largest airline. The airline typically operates an average of 458 daily flights, with schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium indicating that WestJet handles two-thirds of all flights departing from Calgary International Airport (YYC). All WestJet-operated flights were canceled, with the exception of those operated by its regional affiliate, WestJet Encore. WestJet Encore utilizes 35 de Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 aircraft from its operational bases at Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). WestJet's network extends to 27 destinations within the United States, according to Cirium schedules. Key American gateways for the airline by departure volume include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). In response to the disruptions, WestJet is allowing all passengers with flights booked through August 4 to make a one-time change or cancellation without incurring any fees. The primary point of contention between WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the striking flight attendants, centers on compensation. Specifically, the union is demanding that crew members be paid for all hours worked, including periods when the aircraft doors are open on the ground. This practice of not compensating flight attendants for ground time with open doors, which includes time spent at the airport, boarding, and deplaning, is a common industry issue. Other major airlines have implemented changes to address this; Air Canada began compensating its cabin crew for boarding time in 2025 following a three-day strike, and Delta Air Lines started paying its flight attendants half their hourly rate for boarding in 2022. WestJet stated in a company release that it has put forth an offer to the union that it described as an "industry-leading, transformative agreement." The strike has resulted in hundreds of WestJet flights being canceled, leaving a significant number of passengers stranded and facing travel disruptions.