Air Canada Faces Major Disruption: Strike Notice Spurs Lockout and Massive Flight Cancellations

Air Canada is bracing for major travel disruptions as its flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have issued a 72-hour strike notice, prompting the airline to respond with its own lockout notice. The conflict centers on pay, benefits, and working conditions, with the union pressing for compensation reforms and Air Canada offering a 38% total pay increase over four years—an offer the union rejected. Nearly all union members (99.7%) voted in favor of striking, citing longstanding concerns about fair wages and unpaid labor associated with boarding and ground tasks.

To minimize chaos and provide clarity for travelers, Air Canada began canceling flights on Thursday and will wind down most operations by Saturday, August 16, the earliest possible strike date. The shutdown affects Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, responsible for around 130,000 passengers daily—including 25,000 Canadians returning from abroad. Regional flights with Air Canada Express are not impacted, but these cover only 20% of the airline’s usual customers. At least 500 flights are projected to be canceled by Friday, with more expected if no agreement is reached.

Air Canada has sought government-mandated binding arbitration in hopes of avoiding the strike and restoring service, but the outcome remains uncertain as negotiations have stalled. Affected passengers are being offered rebooking on other carriers where possible, full ticket refunds, or travel rescheduling with no change fees. The airline has also warned that a full restart of operations after any stoppage could take up to a week—even if a settlement is reached quickly.

Key Points:

• Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights are gradually being suspended as a strike and lockout approach, with a complete halt likely by Saturday.
• Over 10,000 flight attendants are involved, affecting 130,000 passengers daily, and up to 500 flights canceled by Friday.
• The dispute focuses on pay, benefits, and ground duty compensation; the union rejected a 38% pay increase offer.
• Air Canada Express regional flights continue as normal; affected travelers offered refunds or changes.
• The airline seeks government intervention via binding arbitration to resolve the crisis and prevent extended disruptions.