Canada’s second-largest carrier cancelled nearly 500 flights during the single-day strike.
WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, says it is working to resume flights after reaching a tentative deal with its flight attendants’ union to end their strike.
Cabin crew walked off the job shortly after midnight on 2 August after no deal was reached on a new contract. Among the main disagreements was pay for time spent boarding.
Cabin crew will now be paid for all duty hours, which the airline says is equivalent to a 12% salary increase on top of a 13% set for 1 October, 2026. Subsequent annual raises will happen on 1 January of 2027, 2028, and 2029 of 2.5%, WestJet says. Other changes include a per diem meal allowance increase and more rest time on schedules.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents some 4,400 WestJet employees, says the agreement “improves upon the legacy flight credit system by introducing a duty period premium that recognises more of the work cabin crew are required to perform and increases compensation for that work.”
The agreement will now go to union members for a ratification vote.
“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that reflects the hard work and professionalism of our cabin crew,” says WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech.
WestJet cancelled 496 flights on 2 August, the first day of the strike, and another 301 on 3 August as it worked to resume operations, according to data from FlightAware.
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