Air Canada Grounds Operations After Flight Attendants Strike
Air Canada has suspended all flight operations after its 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), went on strike early Saturday.
The walkout began at 12:58 a.m. (0401 GMT), following a 72-hour strike notice issued on Wednesday. The airline, which connects passengers to more than 180 cities worldwide, warned customers not to head to airports as all flights remain cancelled.
“We are now officially on strike,” CUPE announced in a statement, while Air Canada expressed “deep regret” for the massive disruption.
Over 100,000 Passengers Affected Before Full Shutdown
Air Canada had already begun winding down operations before the strike officially started. By 8:00 p.m. Friday, more than 623 flights were cancelled, affecting over 100,000 passengers. The airline later scrapped its entire 700-flight Saturday schedule, leaving 130,000 daily passengers stranded.
Union Demands: Pay for Unpaid Ground Duties
CUPE’s Core Demands
While wage increases are central to the strike, CUPE has strongly pushed for compensation for unpaid ground work, including duties like assisting passengers during boarding.
Currently, flight attendants are only paid for time in the air, a practice common in global aviation.
Rafael Gomez, head of the University of Toronto’s Center for Industrial Relations, said the union’s focus on unpaid duties resonates with passengers:
“An average traveler might think, ‘I’m waiting to board and there’s a flight attendant helping me, but they’re not being paid for that work.’ That’s a powerful issue.”
Air Canada’s Offer Rejected as “Below Market Value”
On Thursday, Air Canada revealed its latest offer, stating that under the proposed terms, a senior flight attendant could earn CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027.
However, CUPE rejected the deal, describing it as “below inflation and below market value.” The union also refused requests from both the federal government and the airline to enter independent arbitration.
Peak Travel Season Intensifies Pressure
Financial Risks for Air Canada
Experts believe the strike may not last long, given the timing.
“This is peak season,” Gomez explained. “The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. They’re almost playing chicken with the flight attendants.”
Wider Economic Concerns
The disruption comes as Canada faces broader economic pressure, including U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump that are straining key industries such as auto, steel, and aluminum.
The Business Council of Canada has warned that the Air Canada shutdown could worsen economic stress:
“The disruption of national air passenger travel and cargo transport services would cause immediate and extensive harm to all Canadians.”
What’s Next for Air Canada and CUPE?
With 130,000 passengers stranded daily, both Air Canada and CUPE face mounting pressure to resolve the standoff quickly. Any breakthrough in this dispute could also set new industry standards for flight attendant pay worldwide, especially around compensation for unpaid ground duties.
