Air Canada began canceling flights on Thursday due to a looming strike by its flight attendants, potentially impacting around 130,000 travelers per day. The union for the 10,000 flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice, prompting the airline to respond with a lockout notification.
CEO Mark Nasr announced a phased suspension of flights, with complete grounding expected by early Saturday morning. He stated that around 500 flights would be canceled by Friday, affecting 25,000 Canadians traveling overseas. Passengers with canceled flights are eligible for full refunds and alternative travel options.
The union argues that flight attendants are facing “poverty wages” and unpaid labor, despite Air Canada’s claim of a 38% increase in total compensation over four years. Negotiations have stalled, and the union prefers to reach a deal through member votes rather than binding arbitration. Federal Employment Minister Patty Hajdu has encouraged both sides to negotiate independently.
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