Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike, Halting Operations and Disrupting Travel

Air Canada flight attendants began striking early Saturday, forcing the airline to suspend all flights and creating widespread disruption for its roughly 130,000 daily passengers.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 attendants, confirmed the action in a statement: “We are now officially on strike,” according to ITV. In response, Air Canada, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, announced a complete suspension of operations and urged customers not to go to airports, expressing regret over the impact on travelers.

CUPE’s strike became legally effective at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) Saturday, following a 72-hour notice issued Wednesday. The walkout officially began at 12:58 a.m.

Ahead of the strike, Air Canada had already started canceling flights. By 8:00 p.m. Friday, 623 flights affecting over 100,000 passengers had been canceled. The airline scrapped its full 700-flight schedule for Saturday.

Key Dispute: Unpaid Ground Work

Beyond wage increases, CUPE demands pay for unpaid ground duties, such as assisting passengers during boarding. Rafael Gomez, director of the University of Toronto’s Center for Industrial Relations, explained that globally, flight attendants are often only paid for in-flight time. He noted that CUPE effectively highlighted this issue to gain public support and added that any concessions could set a precedent for other airlines.

Air Canada’s latest proposal, released Thursday, would see senior flight attendants earning an average of CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027. CUPE rejected the offer, calling it “below inflation and below market value,” and declined attempts by the government and airline to move the dispute to independent arbitration.

Strike Hits During Peak Travel Season

Gomez predicted the strike may be brief, noting the airline’s potential losses during peak season. “They’re almost playing chicken with the flight attendants,” he said.

The strike also comes amid broader economic pressures, including U.S. tariffs affecting Canada’s auto, aluminum, and steel industries. The Business Council of Canada warned that a shutdown of Air Canada could further strain national supply chains and disrupt air travel and cargo transport, causing significant harm to Canadians.

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