Air Canada Faces Shutdown as Flight Attendants Strike
Last update: August 18, 2025
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Air Canada staff are demanding increase in pay.
Air Canada is preparing for a major shutdown on Saturday as its flight attendants prepared to strike, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and disrupting travel for more than 100,000 passengers.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 flight attendants, was legally allowed to walk out as of 12:01 am (0401 GMT) after issuing a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday.
Officials said the strike could begin around 1:00 am if no last-minute agreement is reached.
With Air Canada transporting roughly 130,000 passengers daily, the airline said it would begin winding down operations ahead of the strike.
CBI News learnt that by 8:00 pm on Friday, 623 flights had already been cancelled.
The union is demanding wage increases and compensation for unpaid ground duties, including boarding.
Air Canada’s latest proposal, outlined Thursday, projected senior flight attendants earning an average of CAN$87,000 ($65,000) annually by 2027.
CUPE dismissed the offer as “below inflation and below market value” and rejected calls from both the government and Air Canada to settle the dispute through arbitration.
Union officials, however, suggested that if a strike does begin, it is unlikely to last long.
