Air Canada Strike Ends: Flight Attendants Return as Thousands of Travelers’ Plans Resume

Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, announced it would gradually resume operations following an agreement with the union representing 10,000 flight attendants. The strike that commenced over the weekend had disrupted travel plans for approximately 130,000 passengers daily at the peak of the summer season.

Negotiations between the airline and the union resumed late Monday evening, marking the first time they met since the work action began. Air Canada anticipates flights to recommence at 4 p.m. ET. The union stated that the agreement would ensure members receive compensation for work performed while aircraft are grounded, addressing a significant dispute leading to the strike.

The flight attendants initiated the job action early Saturday after rejecting Air Canada’s proposal to enter into government-directed arbitration. This process permits a third-party mediator to determine the terms of a new contract.

In a statement, the union expressed, “Unpaid labor is now a thing of the past. We have reclaimed our voice and our power.” They added, “When our rights were stripped away, we stood firm, fought back, and achieved a tentative agreement that our members can vote on.”

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau acknowledged that restarting a major carrier is a complex process, stating that regular service may require seven to ten days. Some flights will be canceled until the schedule stabilizes.

Rousseau issued a statement, saying, “We ask for our customers’ patience and understanding over the coming days as we work towards full restoration.”

The agreement was reached with the assistance of a mediator early Tuesday morning. Air Canada noted that mediation discussions commenced under the condition that the union would immediately reinstate the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants to their duties.

Air Canada declined further comment on the agreement until the ratification process is complete. However, they confirmed that a strike or lockout is not possible during this period.

The airline plans to operate approximately half of Tuesday’s scheduled flights, with a focus on international outbound services. The ramp-up will commence on Wednesday morning for mainline North American routes.

Earlier, Air Canada announced rolling cancellations would persist through Tuesday afternoon following the union’s disregard of a second return-to-work order. The Canada Industrial Relations Board had declared the strike illegal Monday and ordered the flight attendants back on duty. However, the union vowed to defy the directive. Union leaders also ignored a weekend order to submit to binding arbitration and end the strike by Sunday afternoon.

The board is an independent administrative tribunal that interprets and applies Canada’s labor laws. The government ordered the board to intervene.

Labor leaders criticized the Canadian government’s repeated use of a law that curtails workers’ right to strike and forces them into arbitration, a measure the government employed in recent years with workers at ports, railways, and other sectors.

“Your right to vote on your wages was preserved,” the union said in a post on its website.

Air Canada operates around 700 flights per day. The airline estimates that 500,000 customers will be affected by flight cancellations.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that as of Monday afternoon, Air Canada had canceled at least 1,219 domestic flights and 1,339 international flights since last Thursday, when the carrier began gradually suspending its operations in anticipation of the strike and lockout that began early Saturday.

Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest, announced it would deploy additional staff to assist passengers and support startup operations.

Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed relief over the agreement, stating, “It is my hope that this will ensure flight attendants are fairly compensated, ending disruption for hundreds of thousands of Canadian families, workers, and visitors to Canada.”

Passengers whose flights are impacted will be eligible to request a full refund on Air Canada’s website or mobile app.