Air Canada suspends all operations as flights attendants’ strike strands over 100,000 passengers
CUPE union rejects arbitration and presses for higher wages
DUBAI/TORONTO – Air Canada has suspended all mainline and Rouge flights after more than 10,000 flight attendants launched a nationwide strike in the early hours of Saturday.
The walkout comes during peak summer travel season, affecting around 130,000 passengers daily and marking the airline’s first flight attendant strike since 1985.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing Air Canada’s cabin crew, confirmed that strike action began at 12:58 a.m. ET, following a 72-hour notice served earlier this week. The airline, which operates around 700 flights a day, had already cancelled 623 flights by late Friday, disrupting travel for more than 100,000 passengers before the strike officially commenced.
While all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights are grounded, regional services under Air Canada Express, operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines, remain unaffected. Customers have been advised not to go to the airport unless they have confirmed tickets with other carriers.
What sparked the strike?
At the centre of the dispute are wage demands and concerns about uncompensated duties. CUPE argues that flight attendants are not paid for significant tasks, including boarding assistance, safety checks, and handling emergencies. According to the union, entry-level wages have only increased by $3 an hour in 25 years, representing just a 10 percent rise – far below inflation rates.
Air Canada countered with an offer of a 38 percent increase in overall compensation, including benefits and pensions, over four years. By 2027, the airline said, senior flight attendants could expect to earn an average of CAN$87,000 ($65,000). The union dismissed this as inadequate and “below market value.”
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge Flights Suspended due to a Strike By CUPE Flight Attendants : https://t.co/dj08XM4jJK
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) August 16, 2025
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Air Canada et Air Canada Rouge suspendent leurs vols en raison d’une grève des agents de bord représentés par le SCFP : https://t.co/E1O3qCnv87 pic.twitter.com/OHL1XWhfMs
How passengers are affected
The shutdown has created uncertainty for travellers, particularly those stranded during the height of the holiday season. Each day the strike continues, approximately 130,000 passengers face cancellations or rebookings. Air Canada has offered a goodwill policy allowing passengers to change bookings or claim credits for future travel.
Despite government appeals and Air Canada’s request, CUPE has refused third-party arbitration, saying it undermines the workers’ right to strike.
When will it end?
Labour experts suggest that while the strike is disruptive, it may not last long. Rafael Gomez, head of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations, noted that both sides are under pressure to resolve the deadlock quickly. “This is peak season,” he told AFP, adding that the airline risks losing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue if the dispute drags on.
We will not sacrifice the bargaining rights of our members, or allow the status quo to continue. Unpaid work and unfair wages are a true crime.
— Unfair Canada | Air Canular (@UnfairCanada) August 16, 2025
Please like, share, and speak out: https://t.co/7XED7jeF8P#FlightAttendantAirCanada #FlightAttendantLife #UnpaidWorkWontFly pic.twitter.com/s30ZW2u7MG
Air Canada has expressed regret over the disruption and reiterated that it remains open to negotiations, but with no agreement in sight, operations remain paralysed as the strike enters its first day.