WestJet passengers are paying close attention to possible flight impacts as the clock ticks down on a labour dispute. Thursday the Calgary-based airline and union representing its flight attendants each gave 72 hour notice to either go on strike or lock out workers. If the airline and union representing its 4,400 flight attendants can’t negotiate an agreement by the beginning of the day (12:01AM) on August 2, flight attendants could walk off the job Sunday, or WestJet could lock out the workers. Several WestJet passengers leaving Calgary International Airport Thursday are taking it in stride. “Obviously I’m a bit worried about it,” said Jack Rovere before boarding a WestJet flight to Japan with his girlfriend. “There’s a lot of stressors involved in traveling, especially the last couple years has been a lot of different disruptions, but I think for the most part it’s out of my control. All I can really do is hope it doesn’t happen and if something comes up, I’ll deal with it when it comes,” he said. “I’m not going to let it ruin my fun trip,” Rovere added. Still negotiating WestJet and CUPE gave statements that they are still negotiating. WestJet wants “to come to an agreement that provides value and meaningful improvements for our Cabin Crew and is sustainable for our company,” said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech. The union said its wants a fair deal for the workers of Canada’s second largest airline. “We have been clear about what needs to change,” said Alia Hussain, President of CUPE 8125. “There’s still time to avoid a strike” The union’s main concerns are wages, working conditions and unpaid work. Special mediator appointed The federal government appointed a special mediator July 15. The office of the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor gave CTV a statement Thursday saying that mediator continues to assist CUPE and WestJet in their negotiations. “A strike or lockout does not mean an agreement can’t be reached.” The statement goes on to say. “Over the last five years, 95 per cent of the disputes that federal mediators supported were resolved without a work stoppage.” Summer of 2025 Air Canada’s flight attendants walked off the job in August 2025 under similar circumstance, but a labour expert said that may be avoided this time. “Not uncommon at all to see these kinds of issues resolve with an agreement at the 11th hour,” said Jason Foster a Labour Relations Professor at Athabasca University. Foster could be impacted too, with a WestJet flight to Halifax scheduled for Friday, the day WestJet could begin its wind-down plan. “We’re scheduled to fly tomorrow morning. So we’ll just see how that plays out,” said Foster who said labour disputes are just a normal part of living in a modern world. WestJet has been allowing passengers with flights scheduled any time between July 30 and Aug. 4 to make a one-time change or cancel it with no fee. However, this is a travel credit, and if you still want to take your trip you may have to pay a lot more for a different last-minute flight. A passenger’s rights expert says if you wait instead until an airline cancels your flight then you have other options. “If they cancel the flight for any reason you have the option of taking a refund if you want it and not travel however I strongly suggest you not taking a refund and not letting westjet push a refund on you if you want to travel,” said air passenger rights advocate Gábor Lukacs. Calgary couple Sanpreet Chema, Manpreet Atwal and their two year-old son were flying out of YYC Thursday but were not concerned that their return flight is scheduled for the day after WestJet flights could be grounded. “Our dates are right in the middle of the potential strike. We’re going on vacation anyways a few extra days doesn’t hurt,” said Chema. “Getting stranded in L.A. isn’t that bad,” added Atwal.
