WestJet flight attendants have agreed to end a strike that grounded hundreds of flights after their union reached a tentative wage deal with the Canadian carrier, restoring stability to one of the country’s largest airlines.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the airline’s cabin crew, announced the agreement Monday, clearing the way for attendants to return to work and for WestJet to begin restoring normal operations following days of cancellations that stranded travellers across the country.
Details of the tentative deal were not immediately disclosed, though pay had been the central sticking point throughout the dispute. The agreement remains subject to a ratification vote by union members before it takes full effect.
The walkout had forced WestJet to cancel a large share of its schedule, disrupting summer travel plans at a time of peak demand. The airline had urged affected passengers to check their flight status and rebook where possible as it worked to stabilise its network.
The strike began after negotiations over compensation broke down, with the union arguing that wages had failed to keep pace with rising costs and the demands of the job. The dispute quickly grounded hundreds of Canadian flights and drew national attention to labour conditions in the aviation sector.
The settlement adds WestJet to a growing list of North American carriers that have moved to resolve disputes with cabin crews in recent months, as flight attendants press for improved pay and working conditions amid strong post-pandemic travel demand.
WestJet said it expects to gradually resume its full schedule in the coming days, though some residual delays and cancellations may persist as aircraft and crews are repositioned.
The airline and the union are expected to release further details ahead of the ratification vote, which will determine whether the tentative agreement becomes a binding contract.