Air Canada resumes flights after strike ends

Air Canada will progressively restart operations after a weekend strike by flight attendants ends, as the airline works to recover recovering schedules and passenger backlogs.

Air Canada Restarts Flights After Attendants Strike Ends

Air Canada said flights will resume gradually on Tuesday night after reaching a tentative agreement with the union that represents about 10,000 flight attendants. The strike had disrupted service during the peak summer travel period and affected roughly 130,000 travelers daily at its height. The carrier signaled a phased return as crews, ground staff, and operations teams rebuild schedules and clear backlogs. The union had rejected an approach toward government directed arbitration, insisting on the terms being negotiated at the bargaining table, and the dispute led to a series of suspended flights and cancellations across domestic and international routes. Earlier, Canada’s labor board declared the strike illegal and urged workers back to their posts, a move the union resisted while the two sides continued talks with a mediator. Air Canada officials noted that while service will ramp up, full restoration could take seven to 10 days, and some flights will remain cancelled during the transition.

The episode highlights how large travel networks rely on rapid settlement of labor agreements, especially during busy seasons. Government involvement through the labor board and mediation underscores the political and regulatory weight behind such disputes. The outcome could shape future bargaining leverage for workers and the airline, with potential implications for prices, schedules, and job security. For travelers, this is a reminder that disruptions can ripple through weeks, not just days. For the airline, the challenge will be to balance cost, reliability, and communication as it works to restore trust after a major interruption.

Highlights

As operations normalize, the focus shifts to communicating clearly with customers and stabilizing the network.