Economy · WestJet strike · Archive99% Vote Yes: WestJet Strike Could Strand 700,000 Passengers SundayAired July 31, 2026 at 2:59 AM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00WestJet flight attendants could walk off0:01the job as early as Sunday morning after0:04their union issued a 72-hour strike0:06notice. The airline responded with its0:08own lockout notice, raising the stakes0:10on a dispute that threatens 700,0000:12passengers on 600 daily flights. The0:15union issued its 72-hour strike notice0:17on July 30th, and WestJet countered with0:20its own lockout notice the same day. The0:22move came after flight attendants voted0:2499% in favor of a strike earlier this0:26month, and the deadline is now set for0:2812:01 a.m. Mountain Time on August 2nd.0:37Union representative Cameron Jones says0:39low pay and unpaid work remain the core0:41sticking points, and that gap has kept0:43the two sides apart despite federal0:45mediation. WestJet's fee waiver covers0:48travel through August 4th, but if no0:50agreement is reached, the job action0:52would begin at 12:01 a.m. on August 2nd.0:55The Federal Mediation Service is0:57involved, but thousands of families0:59still face uncertainty about whether1:00their flights will take off. The1:02unresolved question, will a last-minute1:04deal avert the stoppage, or will the job1:06action go ahead as scheduled?Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗