Floridians planning to fly to Canada (or Canadians looking to get home) were delayed after flight crews of WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, went on strike Aug. 2. The airline grounded its fleet, affecting about 250,000 travelers during a busy summer weekend.
By Monday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, announced they had reached a tentative agreement to bring an end to the strike. CUPE sought to get pay for its members from the time they check in to the time they clock out, instead of mostly just for time when the aircraft is in motion.
“We know this disruption has been frustrating for our guests and WestJetters and we’re sorry for that,” Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of WestJet, said Monday. “Our teams are working hard to restore service and get our guests on their way to their destinations as quickly as possible and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we get back to normal.”
The agreement now goes to the WestJet Cabin Crew for ratification. Booking on WestJet’s website remains unavailable through Aug. 6.
Plan your trip with Orbitz
Flight-tracking site FlightAware shows WestJet flights have been canceled, including some Orlando-Calgary and Tampa-Toronto routes, although flights by WestJet’s regional affiliate, WestJet Encore, continue to operate. WestJet serves 16 airports in Florida.
WestJet, which flies to destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean, Central America and Europe, had cancelled 615 flights through August 4, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.
Why did WestJet flight crews go on strike?
WestJet’s flight attendants demanded that crew members be paid for all time worked. Previously, they were not paid for time on the ground, including boarding and deplaning at the airport. A three-day strike by Air Canada crew last year successfully led to pay for time at airports.
The carrier’s latest offer included payment for all duty hours, pay increases of 13% effective Oct. 1 (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026) with incremental increases of 2.5% for the next three years, and assorted increases in benefits including higher per diem (meal allowance) rates, more vacation for longtime employees, longer maternity leave, scheduling and quality-of-life improvements and other changes.
A previous offer from the airline was rejected.
What do I do if I’m flying WestJet?
If your flight was affected, you should have received an email with updates and your options. You can also check your flight status or visit the Manage Trips page to get the most up-to-date information.
All customers affected by the shutdown will be refunded or reaccommodated, WestJet said. Guests traveling between July 30 and Aug. 6 can make a one-time change or cancellation at no additional cost. If you booked through a third-party service, contact them to find out what to do next.
The carrier said they will work with travelers already on their trip to find available travel options, which may include booking on other airlines. Porter Airlines has already increased its flight to assist.
The airline and union have reached a temporary agreement so the disruption may not last much longer.
What Florida airports does WestJet service?
According to its website, WestJet serves the following airports:
Reuters contributed to this story.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: WestJet strike grounds all Florida flights, how this affects booking
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
