Air Canada Grounds Flights as Flight Attendants Go on Strike

 

Air Canada halted all flights on Saturday after more than 10,000 flight attendants began a strike, leaving travelers stranded worldwide during one of the busiest travel seasons. The Canadian Union of Public Employees confirmed the walkout began at 1 a.m. ET, hours after the two sides failed to reach a deal. In response, the airline announced it would suspend operations, locking flight attendants out of airports across the country.

The strike is the latest escalation in an eight-month standoff over wages and working conditions. Talks reached a breaking point Friday when the union rejected Air Canada’s request for government-directed arbitration, which would have removed their right to strike and handed the dispute to a mediator. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu met with both parties Friday evening, urging them to resolve their differences, but no breakthrough was made.

See also: Trump Calls Zelenskiy and NATO Leaders After Alaska Summit with Putin

The airline’s complete shutdown is expected to impact about 130,000 passengers daily, with an estimated 25,000 Canadians stranded abroad. Air Canada operates about 700 flights per day, and executives warned that even once a deal is reached, it could take up to a week to fully restore operations. Travelers can request refunds or alternative flights, though most other airlines are already overbooked.

The strike has disrupted travel plans for thousands, including Montreal resident Alex Laroche, who spent months saving for an $8,000 trip to France with his girlfriend. With Air Canada’s suspension, their flight to Nice may be canceled, and replacement tickets on other airlines are priced at more than double their original $3,000 fare. Like many passengers, Laroche said he is now stuck waiting while weighing his limited options.

While some travelers have expressed frustration, many sympathize with flight attendants after learning more about their demands. The union says the airline’s wage structure is not sustainable and highlights the unpaid hours flight attendants spend working before planes are airborne. Air Canada’s latest proposal offered a 38% increase in overall compensation, including pensions and benefits, over four years. The company argued this package would make its flight attendants the best compensated in the country.

See also: (In the U.K) Labour Councillor Ricky Jones Cleared of Encouraging Violent Disorder

However, the union rejected the plan, pointing to an initial 8% raise that it said fails to offset the impact of inflation. Negotiators remain far apart, raising concerns about how long the shutdown could last. Air Canada has said it will try to rebook passengers on other airlines, but warned that limited availability may leave many travelers stranded indefinitely.