Why Canadian airline strikes shut down the whole system — and how other countries avoid it

A WestJet Boeing 737 Max aircraft takes off from Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on July 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Why Canadian airline strikes shut down the whole system — and how other countries avoid it Published: August 10, 2026 2.51pm EDT Share article Print article Over the August long weekend, roughly 250,000 WestJet passengers had their flights cancelled when the airline’s flight attendants walked out over pay, including compensation for ground duties performed before takeoff and after landing. Less than a year earlier, an Air Canada strike ground…