WestJet parks 737 fleet as strike deadline looms Sunday at midnight

WestJet has begun the "difficult process" of parking its 737 aircraft as the airline braces for a possible strike by flight attendants early August.

On July 30, the union representing WestJet's flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice. On Friday, July 31, the airline announced it was grounding its 737 fleet — a step meant to protect operations and prevent stranding passengers and aircraft if a work stoppage occurs.

"This necessary step allows the airline to maintain operational control and protect the integrity of the broader network," WestJet said in a statement. "Most importantly, this proactive measure minimizes the risk of stranding guests and aircraft."

WestJet Encore flights operated on Q400 aircraft and codeshare flights with airline partners remain unaffected. The airline is advising customers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to visit WestJet's travel advisory page for updates.

CUPE 8125, the union representing flight attendants, says the parties remain far apart on key issues. "From the beginning, flight attendants have been clear about what they are fighting for," the union said. "Unfortunately, the parties are still too far apart on some key issues."

Union president Alia Hussain said there is still time to avoid a strike. "We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved. We want a fair contract for our members that recognizes the value of flight attendants' work and recognizes our position as employees of the second-largest carrier in Canada. We look forward to further discussions with WestJet at the table so we can resolve this before August 2nd."

WestJet said it remains active at the bargaining table and is seeking a "mutually agreeable deal" as soon as possible. A strike would significantly disrupt travel across Canada during the peak summer season and could affect thousands of Calgary-based passengers with plans to fly.