Air Canada cancelled hundreds of flights Saturday as it began shutting down operations in response to a strike by flight attendants — triggering summer travel chaos for its 130,000 daily passengers.

Canada’s largest airline, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, urged customers not to go to the airport if they have a ticket for Air Canada or its lower-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge.

It said flights by Air Canada Express, which are operated by a third party, would not be impacted by the walkout.

“Air Canada deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers,” the company said in a statement.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants, said that strike action officially began at 12:58 am local time (0458 GMT) on Saturday.

In response, Air Canada began a “lockout” of cabin crew belonging to CUPE, preventing the employees from working during the standoff fueled by a payment dispute.

Air Canada had been gradually winding down operations ahead of the possible labor action.

As of 8:00 pm Friday, the airline said it had cancelled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers. Its full 700-flight daily schedule has been scrapped for Saturday.

“At this time, Air Canada remains engaged and committed to negotiate a renewal to its collective agreement with CUPE,” it said.

– Unpaid ground work –

In addition to wage increases, the union says it wants to address uncompensated ground work, including during the boarding process.

Rafael Gomez, who heads the University of Toronto’s Center for Industrial Relations, told AFP it is “common practice, even around the world” to compensate flight attendants based on time spent in the air.

He said the union had built an effective communication campaign around the issue, creating a public perception of unfairness.

An average passenger, not familiar with common industry practice, could think, “‘I’m waiting to board the plane and there’s a flight attendant helping me, but they’re technically not being paid for that work,'” he said, speaking before the strike began.

“That’s a very good issue to highlight,” Gomez further said, adding that gains made by Air Canada employees could impact other carriers.

Air Canada detailed its latest offer in a Thursday statement, specifying that under the terms, a senior flight attendant would on average make CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027.

CUPE has described Air Canada’s offers as “below inflation (and) below market value.”

The union has also rejected requests from the federal government and Air Canada to resolve outstanding issues through independent arbitration.

Gomez said he did not expect any stoppage to last long.

“This is peak season,” he said.

“The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue… They’re almost playing chicken with the flight attendants.”

Canada’s economy, though showing resilience, has begun feeling the effects of President Donald Trump’s trade war, with his tariffs hitting crucial sectors like auto, aluminum and steel.

In a statement issued before the strike began, the Business Council of Canada warned an Air Canada work stoppage could add further pain.

“At a time when Canada is dealing with unprecedented pressures on our critical economic supply chains, the disruption of national air passenger travel and cargo transport services would cause immediate and extensive harm to all Canadians,” it said.

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Hundreds of Air Canada flights have been suspended as Air Canada cabin crew begin strike action, including services to London Heathrow Airport.

Air Canada employees formed picket lines outside major Canadian airports on Saturday, just hours after more than 10,000 unionised flight attendants walked off the job in a contract dispute. The airline has warned the strike will disrupt travel plans for about 130,000 passengers each day.

The strike, which started just before 1am EDT (5am GMT), has forced Canada’s largest airline to suspend the majority of its 700 daily flights, affecting thousands of travellers who were forced to find alternative flights or stay put.

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The airline said it had suspended all flights, including those under its budget arm Air Canada Rouge, and has warned passengers not to travel to the airport unless they are flying with a different airline.

Air Canada’s flight attendants are calling for higher salaries and to be paid for work when aircraft are on the ground.

As of Saturday morning, there were no bargaining sessions scheduled between the two sides, which have held on-and-off negotiations for months.

Air Canada has been contacted by The Standard to confirm the number of UK flights affected. In the UK, Air Canada operate flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

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Heathrow Airport declined to comment on the Air Canada staff strike when contacted by The Standard.

Air Canada serves Heathrow from six Canadian cities, with up to 63 weekly flights during the summer.

Air Canada employees at the picket line outside Terminal 1 (REUTERS)

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, confirmed the stoppage in a social media post.

It is the first strike by Air Canada flight attendants since 1985.

Outside Toronto Pearson International Airport – the country’s busiest – hundreds of cabin crew waved flags, banners and picket signs. Union officials called on members to assemble outside all of the country’s major airports, including in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.

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Montreal-based Air Canada said the suspended flights included those operated by its budget arm, Air Canada Rouge. The stoppage would affect about 130,000 customers a day, the carrier said in a statement. Flights by Air Canada’s regional affiliates – Air Canada Jazz and PAL Airlines – will operate as usual.

“Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on an airline other than Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge,” the airline said.

Air Canada employees go on strike as thousands of passengers affected (REUTERS)

The dispute between the union and the airline centers on wages. Attendants are currently paid only when their plane is moving. The union is seeking compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board.

The union has said Air Canada offered to compensate flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50% of their hourly rate.

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The carrier had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient.

The impact of a strike will ripple far beyond Canada. Air Canada is the busiest foreign carrier servicing the US by number of scheduled flights.

While passengers have generally voiced support for the flight attendants on social media, Canadian businesses – already reeling from a trade dispute with the US- have urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, ending the strike.

The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country’s Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy.

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Air Canada has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority Liberal government to act, but the union says it wants a negotiated solution, as binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table.

In a note to clients, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to “extend an olive branch to end the impasse,” adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labor would be outweighed by lost earnings in the airline’s most important quarter.

“We think it would be best for AC to achieve labor peace,” the note said. “Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory.”

Air Canada has suspended all its flights as a strike by cabin staff begins – a move the airline said will disrupt travel plans for around 130,000 passengers a day.

The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the start of industrial action early on Saturday morning.

The airline said it had suspended all flights, including those under its budget arm Air Canada Rouge, and advised affected customers not to travel to the airport unless flying with a different airline.

Air Canada’s flight attendants are calling for higher salaries and to be paid for work when aircraft are on the ground.

The strike took effect at 00:58 ET (04:58 GMT) on Saturday, though Air Canada began scaling back its operations before then. The airline says around 500 flights will be affected per day.

Flight attendants will picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week.

Air Canada, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, said it had “suspended all operations” and that it was “strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport”.

It added that Air Canada Jazz, PAL Airlines and Air Canada Express flights were unaffected by the strike.

“Air Canada deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers,” it said.

By Friday night, the airline said it had cancelled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers, as part of a winding down of operations ahead of the strike.

In contract negotiations, the airline said it had offered flight attendants a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year.

CUPE said the offer was “below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage” and would still leave flight attendants unpaid for some hours of work, including boarding and waiting at airports ahead of flights.

The union and the airline have publicly traded barbs about each other’s willingness to reach an agreement.

Earlier this month, 99.7% of employees represented by the union voted for a strike.

Canadian jobs minister Patty Hajdu this week urged Air Canada and the union to return to the bargaining table to avoid a strike.

She also said in a statement that Air Canada had asked her to refer the dispute to binding arbitration.

CUPE has asserted that it had been negotiating in good faith for more than eight months, but that Air Canada instead sought government-directed arbitration.

“When we stood strong together, Air Canada didn’t come to the table in good faith,” the union said in a statement to its members. “Instead, they called on the federal government to step in and take those rights away.”

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Air Canada cabin crew holding picket signs as they kicked off their strike on Aug 16, 2025.

– Air Canada cancelled hundreds of flights on Aug 16 as it began shutting down operations in response to a strike by flight attendants, triggering summer travel chaos for its 130,000 daily passengers.

Canada’s largest airline, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, urged customers not to go to the airport if they have a ticket for Air Canada or its lower-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge.

It said flights by Air Canada Express, which are operated by a third party, would not be impacted by the walkout.

“Air Canada deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers,” the company said in a statement.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (Cupe), which represents Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants, said that strike action officially began at 12.58am (12.58pm Singapore time) on Aug 16.

In response, Air Canada began a “lockout” of cabin crew belonging to Cupe, preventing the employees from working during the stand-off fuelled by a payment dispute.

Air Canada had been gradually winding down operations ahead of the possible labour action.

As at 8pm on Aug 15, the airline said it had cancelled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers. Its full 700-flight daily schedule has been scrapped for Aug 16.

“At this time, Air Canada remains engaged and committed to negotiate a renewal to its collective agreement with Cupe,” it said.

Outside Toronto Pearson International Airport – Canada’s busiest – hundreds of cabin crew waved flags, banners and picket signs. Union officials called on members to assemble outside all of the country’s major airports, including in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.

Unpaid ground work

The dispute between the union and the airline centres on wages.

Attendants are currently paid only when their plane is moving. The union is seeking compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board.

The union has said Air Canada offered to compensate flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid, but at only 50 per cent of their hourly rate.

The carrier offered a 38 per cent increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25 per cent raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient.

The impact of a strike will ripple far beyond Canada. Air Canada is the busiest foreign carrier servicing the US by number of scheduled flights.

While passengers have generally voiced support for the flight attendants on social media, Canadian businesses – already reeling from a trade dispute with the US – have urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, ending the strike.

Air Canada jets sitting idle on the tarmac as a cabin crew strike began, on Aug 16, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country’s Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy.

Air Canada has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority Liberal government to act, but the union says it wants a negotiated solution, as binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline.

Ms Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table.

In a note to clients, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to “extend an olive branch to end the impasse”, adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labour would be outweighed by lost earnings in the airline’s most important quarter.

“We think it would be best for Air Canada to achieve labour peace,” the note said. “Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory.” AFP, REUTERS

Hundreds of flights suffer cancellation for Canada – Wetin cause am and why

Dem no support media player for your device Play video, “Watch: Moment Air Canada ends news conference after union activists disrupt event”, Duration 0,29 00:29 Wetin we call dis Video, Watch: Moment Air Canada end news conference afta union activists disturb event

5 hours wey don pass

Air Canada don suspend all dia flights becos of strike by dia cabin staff and di move fit disturb travel plans for around 130,000 passengers per day, according to di airline.

Di union wey dey represent more dan 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants bin confam di 72-hour industrial action early Saturday morning.

Di airline say dem don suspend all flights, wey include dose wey dey under dia budget arm Air Canada Rouge, and advise customers wey dey affected make dem no travel to di airport unless dem dey fly wit different airline.

Canada largest airline bin begin dey suspend dia flights on Thursday afta di union of flight attendants bin issue 72-hour strike notice.

Air Canada say dem dey extremely disappointed by di decision to strike.

During one press conference on Thursday, di union bin force dia way into di center and stop wetin di Air Canada executive vice president dey tok.

“Dis na situation wey dey avoidable,” Air Canada executive vice president Arielle Meloul tok during di press conference.

Although, Canadian jobs minister Patty Hajdu say make Air Canada and di union return to negotiation to avoid di strike, e no work.

Why Air Canada flight attendants go on strike

Di Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) wey get 10,000 Air Canada attendants bin provide strike notice on Wednesday afternoon.

Di union say dem bargain in good faith but Air Canada no address issues wey surround wages and unpaid work.

Why Air Canada flight attendants dey strike be say dem dey call for higher salaries. Also, dem want make dem get paid for work wen aircraft dey for ground.

Earlier dis month, 99.7% of employees by di union bin vote for strike. Sake of dis strike, di airline say around 500 flights go dey affected per day.

Flight attendants show for major Canadian airports, wia passengers dey try find new bookings earlier dis week.

Air Canada wey dey fly directly to 180 cities worldwide, say dem “suspend all operations”.

By Friday night, di airline say e don cancel 623 flights wey affect more dan 100,000 passengers.

Di airline say e offer flight attendants 38% increase in total compensation ova four years, wit 25% raise for di first year.

But di union say di offer dey “below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage” and go still leave flight attendants unpaid for some hours of work wey include boarding and waiting for airports ahead of flights.

Wetin go happun to passengers of Air Canada

Customers wey dia flights dey cancelled go get notification and dem go receive full refund, according to di airline.

Di company say dem don also make arrangements wit oda Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers wit alternative travel options.

Customers go dey notified of di alternative options, but if fit take time or fit no dey immediately possible.

Who go dey affected by di Air Canada strike

Air Canada dey operate for 64 kontris wit fleet of 259 aircrafts. And dem say di unplanned shutdown na “major risk” to di company and dia employees.

Di flight cancellation dey expected to affect 130,000 daily customers, wey include 25,000 Canadians, wey dey travel during di summer period.

According to di airline, dem say about 623 flights don dey cancelled and e go affect more dan 100,000 passengers.