August 4, 2026

WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing WestJet cabin crew, reached a tentative agreement on August 3, 2026. The agreement ended the recent strike, and flight attendants have begun returning to work.

Although the strike has ended, WestJet has advised that its flight network will not return to normal immediately. Aircraft and crew must be repositioned across the network, meaning some flights may continue to experience cancellations, delays or schedule changes over the next several days.

What happened?

WestJet flight attendants began strike action on August 2 following unsuccessful contract negotiations. One of the central issues was compensation for work performed before and after flights, including boarding and other ground duties.

The disruption resulted in hundreds of cancelled flights during the long weekend. The tentative agreement remains subject to ratification by union members, but the strike and lockout notices have been withdrawn and operations are gradually resuming.

Potential impact on air cargo

Cargo moving on scheduled passenger aircraft may also be affected when flights are cancelled or aircraft capacity is reassigned. Even after passenger service resumes, air cargo shipments may experience:

• Delayed departures or revised flight schedules
• Limited space on recovering routes
• Cargo being transferred to later flights
• Longer connection times at Canadian airports
• Changes to estimated arrival and delivery dates

Shipments moving through WestJet’s major Canadian hubs, particularly Calgary, may require additional transit time while the network stabilizes.

Recommendations for shippers

Businesses with urgent or time-sensitive cargo should confirm flight status and available capacity before tendering shipments. We also recommend:

• Allowing additional time for airport-to-airport transportation
• Confirming bookings before delivering cargo to the terminal
• Monitoring revised departure and arrival information
• Considering alternate carriers or routings for urgent shipments
• Informing customers that estimated delivery dates may change

Xiongbuy Logistics will continue monitoring airline operations and working with transportation partners to reduce disruption to our customers. Alternative air, ground and multimodal transportation options may be available when scheduled air capacity is limited.

For assistance with an affected shipment or to request an alternative transportation plan, contact Xiongbuy Logistics at support@xiongbuy.com.

Information sources:

WestJet Travel Advisories: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/get-travel-ready/advisories

WestJet Newsroom: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2026/WestJet-and-CUPE-reach-tentative-agreement-ending-further-operational-disruption

CUPE News: https://cupe.ca/news