Air Canada flights slashed by 500 daily as strike hits 130,000 travellers
Country’s largest carrier braces for complete shutdown by 16th August
DUBAI: Air Canada is cancelling about 500 flights every day as a strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants disrupts travel for roughly 130,000 passengers.
The airline, Canada’s largest carrier, began a phased shutdown of its mainline and Air Canada Rouge operations on 14 August, with a full halt expected by early 16th August.
The dispute centres on wages, unpaid duties, and working conditions, with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) rejecting the airline’s latest offer.
Air India flight cancellations
The cancellations have already hit tens of thousands of travellers. On 14th August, 34 flights were grounded due to the strike, affecting nearly 8,000 passengers, while 19 additional cancellations were caused by unplanned crew shortages.
By Friday evening, the airline estimated more than 100,000 customers would be impacted, with around 25,000 Canadians potentially stranded abroad once the shutdown is complete.
Air Canada Express flights, operated by Jazz and PAL, remain unaffected, covering 20% of the airline’s network.
Why the dispute?
The strike follows the expiration of a 10-year collective agreement earlier this year, with negotiations starting in March 2025. CUPE demands pay increases matching industry standards and inflation, as well as compensation for unpaid duties like boarding and safety checks.
Flight attendants are currently paid only for “block hours” – the time between gate departure and arrival – with entry-level wages starting at C$27,000.
CUPE argues Air Canada’s proposed 38% wage increase over four years fails to meet inflation and market rates, pointing to stagnant hourly pay since 2000 despite a 70% rise in average prices.
When could flights resume?
The shutdown is costing the airline tens of millions of dollars daily, with analysts estimating losses could exceed C$50 million ($40 million) per day, factoring in refunds, rebookings, and lost tourism revenue.
Air Canada has asked the Canadian government to invoke Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to impose binding arbitration, but Prime Minister Mark Carney has so far declined to commit to intervention.
The airline says, even under ideal conditions, it would take a full week to restore full service once the dispute ends.