Winnipeg travellers scramble through WestJet cancellations, battling adversity and uncertainty
Posted August 3, 2026 5:36 pm.
With WestJet and CUPE reaching a tentative agreement, Richardson Airport was packed with travellers on Monday morning. But for many, their long weekend was met with frustrations and uncertainty, forcing them to pick up the pieces.
“It was supposed to be a nice, easy trip and enjoyable trip that turned into pulling out my hair most of the time, but I mean it is what it is; you just kinda have to go with the flow,” said Phil Siemens, who was visiting from Calgary.
On Sunday, 240 flight attendants in Winnipeg walked off the job, and though the strike has now ended, flight disruptions continued Monday as travellers in Winnipeg were being pushed to their limits.
“They provided me with the wheelchair to move around the airport, but having these layovers and everything back and forth, shuttle this shuttle that, it’s been impossible to ice it, it’s impossible to elevate it, which I need to get done,” said Vincenzo Scarpino, who was also visiting from Calgary.
Scarpino travelled to Winnipeg for his son’s wedding along with five other family members; he was just cleared to fly after a recent knee replacement.
“Yeah, and I mean if it was just me and I didn’t have these injuries I’d probably be able to tolerate it a little better, but it’s already tough with this leg the way it is, travelling with the group we’re with, having an infant with us ya know it’s tough, it’s tested the patience a little bit,” Scarpino explained.
Scarpino and his family were supposed to have a direct flight back to Calgary, but have had their flights cancelled twice, and it hasn’t been easy for stepdaughter Yarlie Martin.
“It’s just been really, really stressful, and I don’t know; hopefully we’ll be able to get home,” said Martin.
Martin’s husband was diagnosed with cancer two days before her brother’s wedding; luckily, he was able to make it home Sunday with his first chemotherapy session Tuesday. But it’s been difficult for Martin and her 6-month-old baby, and with their flight scheduled to Saskatoon at 8:50 p.m. Monday evening that includes a 9-hour layover, making it to her husband’s chemo session is looking dim.
“I feel like there’s no dealing with it. It’s just kind of day to day, hour to hour with the baby, trying to figure out how to keep her as happy as possible, seeing if there’s anything they can do, but it’s been super difficult. Obviously, there are so many people trying to get home,” said Martin.
While they continue their long journey home, the family still supports WestJet flight attendants in their fight, even though it came at their expense.
“I do feel bad; it’s frustrating that it had to get to this point. Like they should have been able to come to an agreement way before any of this happened, way before anybody got stranded around Canada and wherever else,” said Martin.
Scarpino added, “I mean, I understand what they’re fighting for, and I get that. I feel like the flight attendants deserve, if they’re working on a flight, if they’re on that plane, they should be paid; I fully 100 percent support what they’re doing.”
