Air Canada grounded by flight attendant strike

Air Canada ground operations halt after more than 10,000 flight attendants walk off following a failed contract deadline, threatening peak season travel.

Air Canada Grounded as Flight Attendants Strike

Air Canada suspended all operations after more than 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job early Saturday, ending talks on a new contract. The walkout, which began around 1 a.m. EDT, prompted the airline to lock attendants out of airports and to warn travelers that disruptions could last for days. The company operates about 700 flights a day, and the stoppage could affect roughly 130,000 travelers daily, with about 25,000 Canadians stranded abroad.

The dispute centers on pay and the unpaid work flight attendants perform when planes are not in the air. Air Canada has offered a four‑year package totaling about 38 percent in compensation, including benefits and pensions, while the union argues the first‑year raise of 8 percent does not keep pace with inflation. CUPE says it engaged with a mediator and remains willing to bargain, even as the airline has not countersigned the last two offers since Tuesday.

Travelers have been urged to seek refunds through Air Canada’s site or app and to look for seats on other carriers where possible, though peak-season demand has left many flights full. Some customers, like Montreal resident Alex Laroche, see thousands of dollars at risk on nonrefundable trips as they await a restart timeline. Air Canada’s leadership has cautioned that a restart could take up to a week after a tentative deal is reached.

The situation underscores the fragility of summer travel and the bargaining leverage unions hold when disruption hits a major carrier.

This strike highlights how quickly a single airline can ripple through tourism, business travel, and family plans during peak season. It also shows the growing importance of labor talks as a factor in airline reliability and public perception.

If negotiations drag on, the episode could shift bargaining power toward workers and testing public patience, potentially inviting political scrutiny and political pressure on both sides to settle. The aftermath may influence future contract talks across the industry as airlines weigh wage costs against competitive pressures.

Highlights

The next steps will shape how quickly flights return and how employers balance costs with worker demands.