Air Canada strike ends with tentative agreement

Air Canada and a flight attendants' union announce a tentative deal that ends days of strikes and allows schedules to begin a slow return to normal.

Air Canada flight attendants reach tentative agreement ending strike

Air Canada and the union representing flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement, halting a strike that had disrupted thousands of flights and stranded passengers. CUPE members will vote on the deal to make it permanent, with a resumption of service possible only after ratification. The strike, which began on a Saturday, forced Air Canada and its Rouge unit to cancel more than 700 flights daily and prompted airline advisories about slow schedule restoration as crews and aircraft return to the right positions.

Air Canada has warned it could take a week to 10 days to fully resume normal operations as crews and planes are out of position, and the company emphasized that only customers with confirmed bookings on operating flights should travel to the airport. The disruption had broader effects, given Air Canada’s mix of domestic and international routes, including many U.S. services. The government had previously intervened, with a ministerial order urging a quick end to the walkout.

The wage dispute is at the core of the strike. The union argues that pay has fallen behind inflation and living costs, noting that since 2000 Canada’s inflation rose sharply while entry-level Air Canada wages showed only a small gain over 25 years. About 10,000 flight attendants participated in the strike, calling for higher wages and compensation for time spent during ground holds and essential safety duties.

The tentative deal comes at a moment when labor leverage in the airline sector is under scrutiny. It tests whether wage momentum can catch up with living costs while keeping schedules reliable for a battered traveling public. The government’s involvement underscores how political considerations can shape outcomes in critical industries. If ratified, the agreement could set a benchmark for future talks, forcing airlines to rethink compensation and working conditions to prevent disruptions that ripple through the economy.

Highlights

The road back to business as usual will test whether this agreement translates into lasting stability for the workforce and the flying public.