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Air Canada has announced a phased suspension of flights starting from Thursday, in anticipation of a potential strike by its flight attendants this Saturday.

The airline, which is the largest in the country, stated that all flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will be grounded by the weekend. This follows a 72-hour strikenotice issued on Wednesday by the union representing approximately 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, to which the airline responded with a lockout notice.

About 130,000 customers a day could be affected by a disruption, according to the airline. Passengers impacted by the cancellations will be notified and are entitled to a full refund. The company also assured that it has coordinated with other Canadian and international airlines to offer alternative travel options where possible. This comes as airport workers in a number of Portugal's airports prepare to strike this weekend.

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"We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve," said Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.

On Tuesday, the airline admitted to reaching a deadlock with the union, as both parties remain significantly divided in contract negotiations. The union's main grievances centre around what they term as "poverty wages" for flight attendants and unpaid work when aircraft are not airborne.

"Despite our best efforts, Air Canada refused to address our core issues," the union stated in an online bargaining update. The union has turned down the airline's proposal to enter into a binding arbitration process, stating it would rather negotiate a deal that its members can subsequently vote on.

Air Canada’s vice-president of corporate communications told CBC News that there was a “huge gap” between the two sides. The airline says it has offered “an increase of more than 38% on global compensation”, but the union argues that figure still fails to fully account for inflation.

The airline said it had also made arrangements with other carriers to give customers possible alternative travel options amid one of the year’s busiest travel periods.

Over in Europe more travel chaos is on the horizon as airport workers in Portugalgo on strike. Every weekend until the end of August, SPdH/Menzies ground staff who handle bags at Portugal's main airports will walk out. Backed by the SIMA union, they’re protesting low wages, unpaid night shifts, and a broken pay agreement after Menzies Aviation’s takeover.

These strikes are affecting Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores, with disruptions scheduled every weekend in August: August 8–11, August 15–18, August 22–25, and August 29–September 1. The Portugal strikes follow the announcement of a union in Spain that its Ryanair workers would strike at 12 airports in the coming weeks.