WestJet labour disruption: What cancelled passengers can claim

WestJet suspended its mainline flights at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time on August 2, 2026, citing a labour disruption involving cabin crew represented by CUPE. The airline’s current advisory covers travel to or from all airports between July 30 and August 6.

For affected passengers, the immediate question is not only whether to rebook or seek a refund. It is also whether the disruption creates a claim for meals, hotels, other expenses or statutory compensation.

What happened

WestJet says its mainline flights are suspended while the labour disruption continues. WestJet Encore flights continue to operate, but passengers should check the operating carrier shown on their itinerary rather than assume a flight will be operated by Encore.

WestJet says cancelled passengers will be notified by email and text message. The airline says it will rebook customers on the next available flight, including on another airline where applicable, or allow them to request a refund to the original form of payment through Manage Trips.

WestJet also says that rebooking options depend on availability and applicable arrangements. Passengers who booked through a travel agency, Expedia, another airline or another third party may need to contact the original booking source to receive a refund. Vacation-package customers should follow instructions from the package provider.

The key legal distinction

The Canadian Transportation Agency generally treats a labour disruption within an airline or an essential service provider as outside the airline’s control. The CTA says the final cause of a disruption can sometimes require further review, but the classification matters because the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, or APPR, provide different remedies depending on whether the cause was within the carrier’s control.

For a labour disruption treated as outside the airline’s control, the CTA says the airline must rebook a passenger on its next available flight or, where applicable, on a flight operated by an airline with which it has a commercial agreement. The replacement flight must depart within 48 hours of the passenger’s original departure time. If the airline cannot provide that rebooking, the passenger can generally choose a refund or alternate travel arrangements at no charge.

The CTA also says statutory compensation for inconvenience is not owed when the disruption is outside the airline’s control. That is separate from a refund or rebooking right. It is also separate from possible coverage under travel insurance, a credit-card policy or another contract.

What about hotels, meals and other expenses?

Do not assume that every expense will automatically be reimbursed. Expense claims depend on the applicable rule, the carrier, the itinerary and the confirmed cause of the disruption.

WestJet’s claims guidance says out-of-pocket expense reimbursement is available for disruptions within WestJet’s control when the applicable eligibility conditions are met. The same page says APPR compensation applies only to qualifying disruptions within the airline’s control and not related to safety. That does not establish a general right to reimbursement for every cost arising from the current labour disruption.

Passengers should keep receipts for reasonable expenses, screenshots of cancelled or changed itineraries, airline emails and text messages, and records of calls or online contacts. Those documents may matter for an insurance claim, a credit-card claim or a later dispute about the cause and handling of the disruption.

What affected passengers should do now

• Check Manage Trips and flight status before going to the airport. If the flight is cancelled, do not travel to the airport unless you have a confirmed itinerary.
• Confirm whether the replacement flight is operated by WestJet, WestJet Encore or another carrier.
• Compare rebooking with a refund based on your needs. Do not automatically accept a travel credit if a refund to the original form of payment is available.
• If the booking was made through an agency, third-party site, another airline or a vacation provider, contact the original booking source for the applicable refund or package instructions.
• Save emails, texts, screenshots, receipts and proof of contact with the airline.
• Review travel-insurance and credit-card coverage for labour disruptions, hotels, meals and replacement transportation.

The current WestJet advisory does not say the labour dispute has been resolved. Passengers travelling through August 6 should continue checking the airline’s updates and verify the status and operating carrier of each flight.

Sources

• WestJet travel advisory
• Canadian Transportation Agency: Airline labour disruptions
• Canadian Transportation Agency: Airline control of delays and cancellations