Air Canada flights to resume after strike deal, Dubai Airport services included
More than 500,000 passengers affected worldwide during flight attendants’ walkout
DUBAI – Air Canada will begin gradually resuming its operations today after reaching a mediated settlement with its flight attendants’ union.
The walkout, which began on 16th August, grounded hundreds of flights across the world and disrupted the travel plans of more than 500,000 passengers during the peak summer season.
The carrier expects it will take at least a week to fully restore regular services.
What caused the strike?
The dispute centred on compensation for flight attendants, particularly pay for duties performed while aircraft were on the ground. More than 10,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike after rejecting arbitration and government back-to-work orders. The strike affected an estimated 130,000 travellers each day and forced the cancellation of thousands of flights worldwide.
Air Canada said mediation, overseen by William Kaplan, led to a tentative agreement that requires staff to immediately return to duty. The airline will not comment on details of the deal until the ratification process is complete, but the union has confirmed that it addresses the issue of unpaid work.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board had declared the strike illegal and ordered employees back to work earlier this week, but the union defied the directive until the mediated settlement was reached. With a tentative agreement now in place, no strike or lockout can occur during the ratification process.
Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline and a founding member of Star Alliance, operates around 700 flights daily under normal conditions and serves more than 180 destinations worldwide.
How will flights resume?
The airline confirmed that its first flights are expected to depart this evening, 19th August. However, it warned that aircraft and crew remain out of position, making the restart complex. Some services will continue to be cancelled over the next seven to ten days while schedules are gradually rebuilt.
Air Canada to Gradually Resume Service Today after Reaching a Mediated Settlement with its Flight Attendant Union : https://t.co/f132wx0ybe pic.twitter.com/vACe5awDn1
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) August 19, 2025
Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, apologised for the disruption and urged passengers for patience. “Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding over the coming days,” he said.
Dubai flights
Flights connecting Dubai International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport were also caught up in the disruption. Air Canada confirmed that while some services on this busy route will resume from 19th August, several upcoming departures remain cancelled as the airline works to reposition crews and aircraft.
Travellers are urged to check flight status before heading to the airport. Emirates and Etihad services between the UAE and Canada continue to operate as normal.
What can passengers do?
Air Canada is offering customers with cancelled flights the option of a full refund, a credit for future travel, or rebooking on other carriers, although availability is limited during the high season. Only those with confirmed bookings on operating flights are advised to go to the airport.