Air Canada, the nation’s largest airline, has suspended all flights operated by its mainline and Air Canada Rouge services, leaving more than 100,000 passengers stranded daily during the peak summer travel season. Dublin cancellations include:
- Montreal AC917@04.20
- Vancouver AC919@04.20
- Toronto AC801@04.50
The disruption stems from a strike by over 10,000 cabin crew members, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which began early Saturday after negotiations over pay and working conditions collapsed.
The airline initiated a phased wind-down of operations starting Thursday, with 294 flights cancelled by noon on 15 August, affecting 55,726 passengers, and additional cancellations reported due to unplanned crew absences. Air Canada responded to the union’s 72-hour strike notice, issued just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday, with a lockout notice, aiming to pressure the union into accepting binding arbitration, a move CUPE has rejected.
The strike, the first by Air Canada’s flight attendants since 1985, centres on a bitter dispute over wages and unpaid work. CUPE argues that flight attendants are not compensated for critical ground duties, such as pre-flight safety checks and passenger boarding, with entry-level full-time salaries as low as $27,000 annually, below Canada’s minimum wage.
The union claims Air Canada’s latest offer—a 38 per cent compensation increase over four years—falls short of inflation and industry standards. In contrast, Air Canada insists it has offered competitive wages, with hourly rates ranging from $41.39 for Rouge flight attendants with five years’ service to $87.01 for service directors, alongside guaranteed minimum pay for 65 to 80 hours monthly. The airline also maintains that ground duties are covered under the existing collective agreement, a claim the union disputes, citing systemic underpayment for female-dominated roles.
Travellers are facing significant disruption, with Air Canada warning that alternative travel options are limited due to high summer demand. The airline has arranged rebookings with other Canadian and international carriers, including Star Alliance partner United, but capacity constraints mean many passengers may face delays or be unable to travel immediately.
Those with cancelled flights are eligible for full refunds, though Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations classify labour disruptions as outside the airline’s control, exempting Air Canada from covering incidental expenses like meals or hotels.
European air passenger rights mandate that Air Canada must provide alternative flights as close to original timings as possible, along with accommodation and meals if needed. Passengers starting their journeys in Canada may find travel insurance helpful for additional costs, though claims should first be directed to the airline.
The breakdown in talks followed a 99.7 per cent strike mandate vote by CUPE members on 5 August, after a 10-year collective agreement expired in March. Negotiations, which resumed briefly last week, faltered when Air Canada declared an impasse and declined further discussions without arbitration.
CUPE accused the airline of failing to negotiate in good faith, while Air Canada’s president, Michael Rousseau, described the lockout as a necessary step to avoid chaotic, unplanned disruptions. The airline has also rejected a union proposal to ensure repatriation flights for Canadians stranded abroad, leaving an estimated 25,000 passengers at risk of prolonged delays. Regional carriers Jazz and PAL, which account for 20 per cent of Air Canada’s network, continue to operate normally.
As the strike continues, its duration remains uncertain, with Air Canada projecting daily losses in the tens of millions. The union remains open to negotiations but insists on addressing core issues like unpaid work and wage fairness. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government faces pressure to intervene with binding arbitration, though CUPE opposes this, arguing it would undermine their bargaining power.
For now, airports in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary are quieter than usual, with travellers urged to check their flight status via email or text notifications and avoid airports unless holding confirmed tickets on other carriers. The standoff promises further disruption unless a resolution is reached soon, casting a shadow over Canada’s aviation sector at a critical time.
