‘We’re a volleyball’: Travellers in Winnipeg stranded as WestJet flight attendants strike kicks off
Posted August 2, 2026 5:58 pm.
Last Updated August 2, 2026 6:29 pm.
About 4,400 WestJet flight attendants across Canada walked off their jobs Sunday leading to hundreds of flight cancellations after the union and the airline failed to reach an agreement.
Even as the airline workers picketed at the Richardson Airport in Winnipeg, stranded passengers inside the airport were scrambling to get to their destinations.
Among them is Sydney Handel, who was travelling to Anchorage, Alaska for a wedding.
“It’s very frustrating, it’s unfortunate,” Handel said. “We’re going to a wedding, we have a lot of people we’re excited to see, a big event we’re excited to celebrate, so we’re definitely not thrilled.”
Some travellers told CityNews that they are having to deal with several last-minute itinerary changes.
“They have re-routed us like 10 times,” said Harmeet Dang, who with her partner are returning to Windsor, Ontario after a trip to Banff.
“Feels like we’re a volleyball being sprung here and there between cities.”
Their original flight home was supposed to be direct, but after two cancellations, their itinerary is now Calgary, to Winnipeg, to Saskatoon, back to Calgary, and then finishing in Toronto as their final stop.
“Here we are in Winnipeg not knowing where to go, not knowing where to keep our luggage, don’t even feel like exploring,” Dang said. “We’re like we just need to get home. We’re done, we’re tired we’re exhausted.”
Mohammad Saleem has travelled to Winnipeg from Houston, Texas with 16 people for a family wedding. Their flights have been cancelled, and he’s frustrated with how hard it’s been to reach WestJet, prompting him to come to the airport.
“The line is jammed, totally jammed there’s no way you can call in,” Saleem said. “I’ve been calling all night.”
Though many travellers voiced their disappointment with the situation, some like Handel said they sympathizes with the striking flight attendants.
“I mean human-to-human, I get it,” Handel said. “If you’re not being paid what you think you’re worthy of being paid, I understand. Selfishly, I want to go on our trip that we’ve been planning for almost a year. But I can’t blame them.”
Gina McKay, president, CUPE Manitoba, called on the public to support the flight attendants.
“Right now they have unpaid work, and so we’re here to bring our solidarity to march and bring our voices so that we can say we need an end to unpaid work,” McKay said.
