Those looking to travel in the near future may experience delays as a result of an ongoing labour dispute regarding Air Canada Flight attendants.
Canada’s Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reports that the more than 10,000 flight attendants it represents at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge are prepared to strike on Friday at 10:30 pm if contract agreements are not met.
In response, Air Canada has begun a gradual suspension of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights over the next 72 hours. However, Air Canada Express flights will reportedly not be affected.
Air Canada stated that it tabled a revised comprehensive proposal to the union on August 11, which sought no concessions in return from attendants. The offer for a 38 per cent total compensation increase over four years was also rejected by CUPE.
Air Canada also stated that its offer for a third-party arbitration was also denied and that CUPE responded by issuing a notice to begin a strike a strike as early as August 16.
“We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve. However, the disappointing conduct of CUPE’s negotiators and the union’s stated intention to launch a strike puts us in a position where our only responsible course of action is to provide certainty by implementing an orderly suspension of Air Canada’s and Air Canada Rouge’s operations through a lockout. As we have seen elsewhere in our industry with other labour disruptions, unplanned or uncontrolled shutdowns, such as we are now at risk of through a strike, can create chaos for travellers that is far, far worse,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry approximately 130,000 customers a day, with the airline company noting that up to 25,000 airline customers could be left stranded as a result of the gradual shutdown.
In response, Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, issued a statement, emphasizing that representatives are ready to strike and have already begun showing solidarity for fellow workers.
“After nine months of the company delaying at the bargaining table on the fundamental issues - unpaid work and poverty wages,” Lesosky stated. “The union asked for and received an unprecedented 99.7 per cent strike mandate from its membership. Flight attendants turned out by the hundreds at airports across the country for a powerful showing of solidarity for their August 11 Day of Action.”
The statement goes on to note that CUPE believes that Air Canada's latest offer still leaves flight attendants underpaid and does not take into account inflation, and is below market value.
In addition, Lesosky's statement takes issue with Air Canada’s request for arbitration and took issue with the inability for members to vote on the negiontaed contract if arbitration went forward.
“Everyone knows the best deals are negotiated at the bargaining table,” said Lesosky. “Not handed down by an outside third-party. Then Why does Air Canada want the union to agree to arbitration? First, arbitrators rely on precedent and the status quo to make their determinations. But Air Canada flight attendants are trying to break the status quo by ending the historic abuse of unpaid work in this industry.
“Air Canada wants an arbitrator to do their dirty work for them to keep the status quo intact. Second, an arbitrator’s determination would be final. Members would not get a chance to vote on it. Air Canada wants to go to arbitration because it wants to take away our members’ democratic voice.”
In his statement, he emphasized that the Air Canada Component of CUPE is still willing to negotiate and remains at the bargaining table.
Despite the expected interruptions due to the ongoing dispute, YXS is likely to be unaffected.
Air Canada Express operates out of YXS, which the airport notes is the brand name of national “feeder” flights.
Since Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines are the sole operators of Air Canada Express and are under different unions and different contracts and will not be joining the strikers at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
However, those expecting to connect with other flights under Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge will face delays over the coming days.
Air Canada is currently working to rebook flights for affected customers and are expected to notify via email/text/app
They have also prepared an FAQ page and a flexible rebooking policy is in effect. Air Canada is also encouraging travellers to utilize online self-serve options to manage their bookings.
More information can be found at this link: www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2025/ac-action.html#/
