Summer travel plans across Canada are in jeopardy as Air Canada faces a looming strike by 10,000 flight attendants, set to begin at 1 a.m. EDT on Saturday if no contract agreement is reached. The airline has warned it may cancel nearly all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, affecting up to 130,000 passengers per day. Regional Air Canada Express flights, operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines, would not be impacted.
By midday Friday, Air Canada had already canceled 87 domestic and 176 international flights in a “phased wind down” of operations. The airline expects to call off about 500 flights by Friday night and is working to rebook customers on other carriers, though availability is limited during peak summer travel. United Airlines and other Star Alliance partners are offering fee-free rebooking on certain routes.
Why the Strike?
Contract talks between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have stalled after eight months of negotiations. Key disputes include pay increases and compensation for unpaid ground duties such as boarding and deplaning. Air Canada says its latest offer included a 38% boost in total compensation over four years, but the union argues the proposed 8% raise in year one falls short given inflation.
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Passenger Options
The strike’s length remains uncertain. Air Canada’s COO said restarting operations would take at least a week even under ideal conditions. A complete shutdown could leave tens of thousands of Canadians abroad temporarily stranded.
Travelers are urged to monitor flight status closely and explore alternate carriers such as WestJet, which is adding limited extra capacity to ease the disruption.
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Why the Strike?
Contract talks between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have stalled after eight months of negotiations. Key disputes include pay increases and compensation for unpaid ground duties such as boarding and deplaning. Air Canada says its latest offer included a 38% boost in total compensation over four years, but the union argues the proposed 8% raise in year one falls short given inflation.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Passenger Options
- Full refunds are available via Air Canada’s website or app.
- Travelers can rebook for dates between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12 at no extra cost.
- Customers may be rerouted on other airlines, but immediate rebooking isn’t guaranteed.
- Cancellations due to a strike are considered beyond the airline’s control, so food and lodging compensation won’t apply.
The strike’s length remains uncertain. Air Canada’s COO said restarting operations would take at least a week even under ideal conditions. A complete shutdown could leave tens of thousands of Canadians abroad temporarily stranded.
Travelers are urged to monitor flight status closely and explore alternate carriers such as WestJet, which is adding limited extra capacity to ease the disruption.
