Will Canada's WestJet airline strike go ahead - and can I get a refund?

WestJet flight attendants could begin a strike as soon as Sunday morning, with a 72-hour notice from CUPE 8125 expiring at 02:01 EST (07:01 BST). The disruption would fall during one of Canada’s busiest summer holiday weekends. WestJet says it is still negotiating with the union and has parked flights since Friday. The airline is offering free cancellations and changes for trips departing through Tuesday, and it has cancelled 81 flights on Saturday to reduce the chance of stranding passengers. WestJet says WestJet Encore Q400 flights and certain codeshares won’t be affected. Contract talks started in September 2025, and the dispute centers on “ground pay,” including unpaid work up to 35 hours per month before takeoff.