Overview

• More than 10,000 CUPE flight attendants commenced strike action early on August 16, prompting Air Canada to enact a lockout and halt all operations.
• Air Canada had canceled over 600 flights by Friday night, affecting an estimated 130,000 passengers per day at the height of the travel season.
• The dispute centers on pay and unpaid pre- and post-flight work after Air Canada’s offer of a 38% total compensation increase over four years was rejected by the union.
• The airline has promised full refunds, fee-free rebooking and limited alternative travel through partner carriers but cautions that peak-season capacity is constrained.
• Both Air Canada and CUPE say they remain available for negotiations as federal ministers press for a rapid settlement, with a full network restart likely taking up to a week after any provisional deal.