Back in the air: WestJet travellers return to trip itineraries after strike delays
Posted Aug 5, 2026 8:59 am.
Last Updated Aug 5, 2026 9:54 am.
Some WestJet passengers are finding success with air travel again after a flight attendants strike grounded flights and travel plans.
Nicole Ross was supposed to fly out to Barcelona Saturday, but after her flight got rebooked five times she was finally set to leave Tuesday evening.
“It’s been really, really frustrating,” Ross told CityNews, saying her time in Barcelona has been shortened to a single night as a result of the strike.
Edmontonian Sarah Kennett was supposed to fly to London on Sunday but that was changed to Tuesday.
Kennett is travelling with her mother and stepfather and says she spent $700 among the three of them for accommodations.
The larger expense came after she struggled to find somewhere to sleep in Calgary, with the group having to go as far as Innisfail on their first night.
“That was the closest hotel room we could find. Everything in Calgary was booked or for $2000 a night. It was crazy,” Kennett says.
Meanwhile, Sima Bhensbadia and partner drove from Edmonton to Calgary and spent $900 on accommodations, food and a rental car for a trip to Phoenix that was only supposed to be one day.
They were finally leaving for the States Tuesday evening.
Bhensbadia says, “we had to work today, we had to call off today. We’ve never done that before.”
WestJet says in a statement that while they have resumed their operations the impacts of the job action will continue and are encouraging travellers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
