Air Canada has announced a full suspension of operations for its mainline and Air Canada Rouge flights following a strike by over 10,000 flight attendants, significantly disrupting air travel during this summer’s peak season.
The work stoppage began after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing more than 10,000 flight attendants, delivered a 72-hour strike notice starting August 13. Union members voted overwhelmingly 99.7% in favor of the strike mandate.
Negotiations crumbled over key issues including pay for ground-based work such as boarding, which attendants claim remains unpaid. Air Canada had offered a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, but the union dismissed it as insufficient, especially given inflation and current living costs.
Flight Disruptions and Passenger Impact
•Grounded Flights: The airline suspended all operations for its mainline and Air Canada Rouge flights as of August 16, affecting around 700 daily flights and stranding about 130,000 passengers per day.
•Regional Exceptions: Services by Air Canada Express (operated by third-party airlines like Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines) remain operational.
•Financial and Emotional Toll: Passengers are left to navigate hotel bookings, rebooked fares, and personal losses such as those like a Montreal couple whose $8,000 nonrefundable trip remains in limbo.
In response, the federal government, through Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu, invoked binding arbitration, directing both parties to resume old contracts until an arbitrator can resolve outstanding issues . The government’s action was swift, less than 12 hours into the strike, citing economic risks and ongoing trade pressures.
CUPE blasted the government’s move, calling it a violation of workers’ constitutional right to strike. Union representatives insist they remain ready to bargain but opposed arbitration as it disproportionately favors the airline.
Air Canada has urged travelers not to go to the airport unless flying with another airline. The carrier is offering rebookings for free or receive future travel credits, Customers can request full refunds via the airline’s app or website and the airline is not offering food or lodging assistance, stating the disruption falls outside its control.
Operational Timeline, Air Canada indicates resuming full services could take up to a week, depending on arbitration outcomes .Support for Workers, Public sentiment appears to lean in favor of flight attendants, especially over demands for fair compensation and Economic Risk, business groups warn of broader economic fallout, citing the essential role of the airline in trade and supply chains are the outlook and broader implications.
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