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Air Canada Flights Resume After Strike Agreement
Toronto—Relief for travelers as Air Canada reached a tentative agreement with its flight attendants’ union, ending a strike that disrupted travel plans for hundreds of thousands. Flights are expected to resume gradually starting Tuesday afternoon, though a return to normal operations may take a week or longer.
The strike, which began over the weekend, affected approximately 130,000 passengers daily during the peak summer travel season. A key sticking point for the 10,000 flight attendants was compensation for time spent on the ground.
The union declared victory, stating the agreement ensures pay for all working hours. Union members will now vote to ratify the agreement.
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau acknowledged the complexity of restarting airline operations and asked for customer patience during the transition. He anticipates some flight cancellations will continue until the schedule stabilizes. The airline prioritized resuming international outbound flights Tuesday afternoon, with North American routes following on Wednesday.
The agreement, reached with the assistance of a mediator, comes after the Canada Industrial Relations Board deemed the strike illegal and ordered flight attendants back to work—an order the union initially defied. The government had directed the board to intervene. The union criticized the government’s increasing reliance on legislation that restricts workers’ right to strike and mandates arbitration, a tactic recently used in disputes involving port and rail workers.
Air Canada, which operates about 700 flights daily, had canceled thousands of flights since last Thursday in anticipation of the strike. Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest, is deploying extra staff to assist passengers as operations restart. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed relief at the agreement and hopes it ensures fair compensation for flight attendants while minimizing further travel disruptions.
Affected passengers can request full refunds through Air Canada’s website or mobile app.