Turbulence Ahead: Air Canada Cancels Flights as Flight Attendants’ Strike Threatens Nationwide Disruption
Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, is bracing for major nationwide travel disruptions as more than 10,000 flight attendants prepare to strike this weekend, citing stagnant wages and unpaid labor. With a 72-hour strike notice issued by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Wednesday, August 13, the airline has begun cancelling flights in anticipation of a full work stoppage by Saturday, August 16.
The move could severely impact thousands of travelers during Canada’s peak summer travel season, with ripple effects expected across North America’s air traffic network.
Why Are Flights Being Cancelled in Advance?
To avoid chaos at airports and manage logistics ahead of the strike, Air Canada has preemptively started cancelling flights as early as Thursday, August 14, with additional cancellations expected Friday. If no agreement is reached, a full suspension of operations for both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will begin Saturday, August 16.
Affected customers are being offered full refunds or alternative booking options.
The Core Issues: Wages and Unpaid Labor
At the center of the dispute are two longstanding issues:
- Wage stagnation: CUPE claims flight attendants have not seen a contract renegotiation since 2015. Air Canada’s current offer of a 17.2% compounded raise over four years (including 8% in the first year) fails to match 28% inflation over the past decade.
- Unpaid work: Flight attendants are only paid from takeoff to landing, not for boarding, deplaning, or pre-flight safety checks. CUPE reports that attendants work up to 35 hours a week unpaid. The airline has proposed partial pay for this work — but at only 50% of the regular hourly rate, which the union rejects.
CUPE spokesperson Hugh Pouliot says the union is still open to negotiations but insists the wage offer is insufficient and the unpaid labor policy is “outdated and exploitative.”
Lockout Notice Adds Pressure
In response to CUPE’s strike notice, Air Canada has issued a lockout notice that would begin at 1:30 a.m. on August 16, signaling that it, too, is prepared to ground its workforce if no agreement is reached. This back-and-forth has raised the stakes and heightened the anxiety of travelers and employees alike.
Impact on Travelers: Uncertainty, Refunds, and Rebooking
The strike’s timing — during the height of summer travel — is expected to cause widespread disruption, particularly at major airports like Toronto Pearson, Vancouver International, and Montreal-Trudeau. Long lines, delays, and rebooking chaos are likely outcomes.
Passengers are advised to:
- Check flight status regularly on the Air Canada website or app
- Rebook flights or seek full refunds if affected
- Consider alternative carriers or routes where possible
Federal Government Urged to Intervene
Air Canada has asked the federal government to step in by invoking binding arbitration, but Ottawa has so far declined. Minister of Labour Patty Hajdu has maintained that both parties should resolve the issue through direct negotiation, a stance that has drawn criticism given the potential economic fallout of a nationwide airline shutdown.
What’s Next?
Negotiations between Air Canada and CUPE are ongoing. With both a strike notice and lockout notice now issued, a work stoppage appears increasingly likely unless a breakthrough occurs before August 16.
In the meantime, travelers remain in limbo — with many calling for resolution, not rhetoric.
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