WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with a resounding 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the strong support from members reflects the significant progress achieved during negotiations.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees highlighted key aspects of the agreement, including an over 18 percent salary increase spread over three years and additional compensation for ground-based work. The contract will see a 13 percent wage boost in October, followed by increments of 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028.

Negotiations between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component had been ongoing since January, primarily focusing on wage adjustments and disputes over unpaid ground duties. The new three-year agreement, effective from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, signifies an important milestone following challenging discussions, particularly regarding boarding pay, which led to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month.

In response to the ratified agreement, WestJet has gradually increased its flight operations after experiencing over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel period. The aviation industry has faced labor disruptions in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing operational disruptions at major Canadian airlines.

WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and serving over 70,000 passengers on certain days, did not immediately provide a comment on the agreement ratification.