TORONTO – In the peak of the summer travel season, Air Canada—Canada’s largest airline—has abruptly halted most of its operations due to a strike launched by its 10,000 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). This action has caused widespread disruption, leaving approximately 130,000 daily passengers stranded and scrambling for alternatives.
The strike officially began early Saturday morning at 12:58 am ET, following months of stalled contract negotiations, forcing Air Canada and its budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, to suspend all flights. Meanwhile, regional partners Air Canada Express, operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines, continue operating as normal.
The root of the dispute lies in a breakdown over pay and benefit negotiations. CUPE is demanding fair compensation not only for flight hours but also for “groundwork”—tasks like assisting passengers during boarding and deplaning, which currently go unpaid.
Air Canada Cancels Hundreds of Flights as Strike by Flight Attendants Begins
In response to CUPE’s 72-hour strike notice, Air Canada issued a lockout, initiating a phased suspension of approximately 700 daily flights in anticipation of the labor stoppage. By Friday evening, more than 623 flights had already been canceled, affecting over 100,000 travelers.
The airline issued an urgent advisory urging customers not to go to the airport unless they have confirmed bookings with alternate carriers or are flying with Air Canada Express, which is unaffected by the strike.
For passengers already affected, Air Canada has introduced a goodwill policy allowing free rebooking or travel credits, particularly for flights scheduled in the coming days. Where possible, the airline is attempting to rebook passengers on partner airlines, although high travel demand is making that a logistical challenge.
CUPE has rejected Air Canada’s most recent compensation proposal, which included a 38% wage increase over four years. The union called the offer “below inflation and market value,” and has also pushed back against government calls for binding arbitration, stating that such a move would compromise the integrity of the bargaining process.
Industry observers have noted that the union’s messaging around unpaid groundwork has resonated with the public, highlighting a perceived inequity in how cabin crew are compensated.
Meanwhile, the Business Council of Canada issued a statement warning that disruption to both air passenger travel and air cargo services could place additional strain on already fragile supply chains, especially as Canada faces growing economic headwinds from global trade tensions.
Canada’s Minister of Labour, Patty Hajdu, has called on both CUPE and Air Canada to resume negotiations and resolve the standoff as soon as possible. While the government has not yet intervened directly, officials are closely monitoring the situation due to its potential impact on the national economy and critical travel infrastructure.
The strike has already led to scenes of frustration and confusion at major airports across Canada. Stranded passengers described missed weddings, medical appointments, and costly vacation disruptions. Many reported receiving little advance notice of cancellations, compounding the chaos.
Several passengers shared their frustration after hours of waiting and multiple gate changes, only to be informed of last-minute cancellations. Others, with non-refundable international travel arrangements, expressed deep concern about losing thousands of dollars.
Travel experts warn that if the strike continues into the next few weeks, Air Canada could stand to lose hundreds of millions in revenue, while risking long-term damage to its brand reputation during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Should the work stoppage continue, Air Canada has acknowledged that it may take up to a week to fully restore its regular flight schedule once an agreement is reached.
In the meantime, passengers are advised to closely monitor their flight status through email, text, or the Air Canada app, and to make use of self-service tools for cancellations, rebookings, or refunds where available.
Despite the disruption, both Air Canada and CUPE have expressed a willingness to continue negotiations. Whether an agreement can be reached in the coming days remains to be seen—but for now, summer travel plans for thousands remain in limbo.
Source- EWN
