Air Canada cancellations hit peak travel period

Air Canada cancels hundreds of flights as a potential flight attendants strike looms during the peak travel season.

Air Canada cancels hundreds of flights as flight attendants strike looms

Air Canada canceled more than 623 flights by Friday evening, many international, and warned that a walkout could begin around 1 a.m. Saturday. The airline has also said it would lock out staff from airports as the labor dispute with CUPE, which represents about 10,000 flight attendants, escalates. The disruption threatens to affect about 130,000 travelers a day and could extend into the weekend as scheduling grows uncertain.

Officials say the airline started a phased wind down of operations and has urged affected travelers to use the refunds feature on Air Canada’s site or app. Rebooking options may be limited because other carriers are near full capacity during the summer peak. The two sides have been in talks for eight months without a tentative agreement on pay and unpaid work when planes aren’t in the air.

Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu met with Air Canada and the union, urging both sides to reach a deal promptly. The union says it remains willing to bargain and has engaged with a mediator since talks stalled, while the airline has argued its latest offer would elevate pay and benefits to among the best in Canada.

The episode exposes how fragile air travel can be when labor tensions surface at peak times. Wages and inflation become a flashpoint that tests the economics of a high-volume, low-margin industry. Government mediation signals a push for a quick settlement, but it can also create political pressure that shapes bargaining leverage and public expectations.

For travelers, the situation highlights the cost of disruption and the limits of rebooking when demand is high. In the longer run, the dispute could push airlines to rethink staffing models, schedules, and compensation to attract and retain workers while keeping prices bearable for passengers.

Highlights

The outcome will depend on bargaining momentum rather than headlines on the tarmac.