Air Canada flight suspensions loom

Air Canada moves to suspend operations if the strike proceeds, signaling a major disruption for passengers and the economy.

Air Canada prepares to halt flights as cabin crew strike looms

Air Canada said it is preparing for a shutdown of operations due to a potential strike by about 10,000 flight attendants. Cancellations will begin on Thursday and escalate through Friday, with a full suspension expected by Saturday for both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. The move follows a 72-hour strike notice issued by the union and an impasse in contract talks. The airline issued a lockout notice in response. Travelers with canceled flights will receive refunds, and Air Canada has arranged options with other carriers where possible. CEO Michael Rousseau said the company regrets the disruption’s impact on customers, stakeholders and communities. The union accuses the airline of not addressing core issues such as wages and unpaid labor when planes are on the ground. The union rejected binding arbitration, arguing negotiations should lead to a deal that members vote on. The dispute comes as Canada faces broader economic concerns, including a tourism season that relies on air service and ongoing tariff tensions with major trading partners.

The standoff places labor and management in a high stakes standstill just as Canada relies on travel to power a summer economy. A lockout signals a preference for control over a negotiated outcome, but it also risks damaging credibility with customers and partners. If Ottawa eyes a response, it could set a precedent for how governments balance essential services with workers rights. For small businesses and communities dependent on tourism, the disruption exposes how fragile regional recovery can be when a single carrier dominates the market. The fight over wages and unpaid labor highlights a broader question: can an industry that commands national reach maintain competitive pay without crippling a backbone industry? The answer may reshape how airlines bargain during peak seasons and how quickly governments intervene when commerce and connectivity are at stake.

Highlights

The next moves will test how far labor and management can push and how quickly public patience dries up.