Air Canada has canceled flights as a waving strike on the horizon. This is what it means Aviation news

Canada Air, the largest airline in the country, I started to suspend flights On Thursday morning, before a possible strike by the flight attendants.

Hundreds of flights are expected to be canceled by the weekend if the flight attendants are out of their jobs as expected.

Air Canada and anti -aviation federation struggled to agree on a deal that would increase the compensation of flight workers.

Here is what we know about the labor dispute and its potential consequences:

What happens to Air Canada?

The Montreal airline has reached its headquarters to a dead end with the union, which represents more than 10,500 flying lecturers in compensation dispute, despite eight months of negotiations. The company and the federation issued notifications that the disturbances in the services of the airline will start on Saturday.

What services will be affected, and when?

Air Canada said it will gradually reduce flights over three days, starting from dozens of cancellation on Thursday and about 500 pm by Friday evening. By one in the morning in Toronto (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, all flights will be stopped.

Shipping services will also be affected, but Air Canada Express regional flights will work as usual, as they depend on contracts with other airlines.

However, these partners deal with only about 20 percent of the daily passengers in Canada Airlines. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, a subsidiary that offers low -cost trips, Download approximately 130,000 passengers per day.

In response to the expected withdrawal early Saturday, Air Canada announced its own “insurance”, a strategy that prevents employees from reaching work in order to force them at the negotiating table.

The airline warned that once the lock starts, around 1:30 am Toronto time (05:30 GMT), it may not be able to quickly restore flights.

Mark Nasr, chief operational officer at Air Canada, explained that restarting, “under the best conditions, will take a whole week to complete it.”

Why hits the flight attendants?

Wages are the main point in negotiations.

The Canadian Federation of Public Employees (CUPE) said that its negotiators are not satisfied with the high wages proposed in Air Canada and other compensation conditions, and thus rejected an offer to transfer the contract discussions to arbitration.

“During the past nine months, we have made strong proposals based on data about wages and unpaid businesses, all of which are rooted in the standards of fairness and industry,” said Wesley Lesusky, head of the Air Canada component in CUPE. In a statement. “Air Canada’s response to our proposals clarifies one thing: they are not interested in solving these critical issues.”

According to the federation, the airline refused to raise the wage of the flight host to meet the standards of industry, to keep abreast of inflation or match the minimum federal wages.

The Federation pointed out that since 2000, the start of wages for flight attendants with Air Canada only increased $ 3 per hour, while inflation increased by 69 percent during the same period.

We stand in solidarity with Air Canada flight attendants with unpaid work and poverty wages!
Fine salaries. Dignity on the job. No more excuses!
Read more → https://t.co/yqvQEwtbpc#Aircanadastrike

– Cupe Ontario (Cupeontario) August 12, 2025

Canada, however, He said The Federation rejected a proposal sent on Monday, which included an increase in wages by 38 percent over a period of four years, along with other advantages and protection.

But the union questioned the benefits of that deal. Instead, he explained that the flight attendants suffered from a 9 percent reduction in their last contract, which means that an 8 % increase during the first year of the new deal is not sufficient to recover costs.

“It is actually a wage reduction,” Cap said in its statement.

The Union also argues that Air Canada is not currently providing “ground wage”, a industrial term that describes the compensation provided to all the services provided before the plane doors are closed.

This work can include assistance provided to airport travelers, luggage handling and helping travelers stabilize their seats while the plane is preparing to return from the airport gate.

“For the sake of” any of the safety checks under the Federal Organization, which we do an hour before ascending to ascending to climb.

“It is an average of about 35 hours a month in which we do not pay.”

The Federation said it is seeking full salaries for all hours of work, as well as increases in the cost of living.

The ground wage, which is also called “wages ascending”, was a major issue in negotiations in American airlines as well, given that many transport companies do not compensate for the flight at the price of the hour during the decisive periods before or after the flight.

How many passengers will be affected, and what will they happen in return?

The airline, which serves 64 countries with a fleet of 259 aircraft, said the closure is a “great danger” for both the company and its employees. This interruption may affect 130,000 passengers every day, including 25,000 Canadians, during the peak of the summer travel season.

Canada Airlines About 430 daily flights Between Canada and the United States, it reaches more than 50 American airports. It also provides a home service for 50 Canadian airports and average more than 500 daily flights.

Airlines said that passengers who are canceled will be notified and can get full online recovery.

The airline has also arranged with other Canadian and international transport companies to provide alternative travel options wherever possible. But he stressed that some flying alternatives may not be possible.

“Given that other transport companies are already full due to the peak of summer travel, securing this capacity will take time, and in many cases, this will not be possible immediately,” the airline explained.

How did the government respond?

Air Canada said it has sought the government’s arbitration to solve the situation.

Under Canada’s Labor Law, the government of the government has the authority to intervene and employ a deal through the Canadian Industrial Relations Council.

This, in turn, can force those present to return to work. Its union to request Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney “to refrain from intervention.” He argued that the governmental measure will indicate negotiations in favor of Canada.

“Why does any employer bother to negotiate if they know that the government will save them when negotiations become difficult?” Al -Ittihad wrote in a letter published on social media.

Canadian Minister of Labor Patti Hajwad urged both sides to return to the bargaining table. “In order to be clear: the deals that are made on the bargaining table are the best deals,” said Hagdo.

She added: “I urge both parties to put their differences aside, return to the bargaining table and accomplish this now for many travelers who depend on you.”

Please see a graph about the latest development between Air Canada and Air Canada: pic.twitter.com/hqj5jdykn

Pattyhajdu August 14, 2025