As the clock ticks down to a potential strike by Air Canada flight attendants, the country’s largest airline is bracing for what could become one of the most disruptive labor actions in Canadian aviation history. Since August 9, 2025, Air Canada has canceled hundreds of flights, with the tally reaching 200 by August 15 and an estimated total of 500 by the end of Friday. The looming strike, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, threatens to grind the airline’s operations to a halt and upend travel plans for as many as 130,000 passengers each day.
Negotiations between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents more than 10,500 flight attendants, have dragged on for eight months without resolution. The primary sticking points? Wages that the union says lag well behind inflation and market standards, and the issue of unpaid work—particularly during ground operations such as boarding and safety checks.
According to ABC News, the union has highlighted that full-time junior Air Canada flight attendants currently earn about $1,952 per month before taxes. Even with the company’s proposed "first-year catch-up increase of 8%," monthly earnings would only rise to $2,108. In contrast, a worker earning the federal minimum wage of $17.75 per hour would make $2,840 monthly, the union pointed out in its August 12 update. CUPE’s president, Wesley Lesosky, didn’t mince words: "For the past nine months, we have put forward solid, data-driven proposals on wages and unpaid work, all rooted in fairness and industry standards. Air Canada’s response to our proposals makes one thing clear: they are not interested in resolving these critical issues."
The airline, for its part, has offered a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, including benefits and pensions. However, the union argues that the proposed 8% raise in the first year is insufficient, especially given that flight attendants suffered a 9% pay cut in their last contract. "It is, in effect, a pay cut," CUPE said in a statement cited by Al Jazeera. The union is also pushing for compensation for ground work—an industry-wide issue that’s gained traction in recent years. Flight attendants say they average about 35 hours per month of unpaid labor, including time spent assisting passengers during boarding, performing federally regulated safety checks, and handling baggage.
Shanyn Elliott, chair of the CUPE strike committee, told Global National, "[For] any of our federally regulated safety checks, which we do an hour before boarding, we are not compensated. We are not compensated for boarding and deplaning." Vancouver-based flight attendant Henly Larden, who’s worked for Air Canada since 2017, called it a "very archaic expectation" to work for free during the boarding process. "Just because it’s a past practice doesn’t mean here in 2025 that it’s OK or it’s right, and we want to change that going forward," Larden told reporters.
The standoff has led both sides to take drastic measures. On Wednesday, the union issued a 72-hour strike notice after 99.7% of its members voted in favor of a walkout by the end of July. Air Canada swiftly responded with a lockout notice, meaning that even if flight attendants don’t strike, they’d be barred from working as of early Saturday. Air Canada’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr explained, as quoted by The Washington Post, that a complete shutdown would facilitate an orderly restart, "which under the best circumstances will take a full week to complete."
The impact of a full shutdown would be enormous. Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, transport about 130,000 passengers daily, with regional partners handling another 20%. The airline operates nearly 430 daily flights between Canada and the United States, serves 64 countries, and connects to 50 Canadian airports. Cargo services would also be affected, though regional Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz Aviation and PAL Airlines are expected to continue.
For travelers, the uncertainty is palpable. By midday on August 15, aviation analytics company Cirium reported that at least 87 domestic and 176 international flights had already been canceled for August 15 and 16. Air Canada said it would reach out to impacted passengers via email or text and is offering full refunds or rebooking on other airlines where possible. However, the airline cautioned that alternative flights may not be immediately available due to the summer travel peak. Passengers with flexibility can rebook for dates between August 21 and September 12 at no extra cost. But under federal regulations, flight cancellations caused by a strike or lockout are considered outside the carrier’s control, so customers are not entitled to compensation for food or lodging.
United Airlines, a Star Alliance partner, has stepped in to help, waiving fees for eligible customers to rebook travel on United flights departing through August 27. The new flights must be between the same cities as the original tickets, and United’s assistance extends to major Canadian cities including Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Québec City, Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Toronto.
On the ground, Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport are ramping up staff and resources to help travelers navigate the chaos. Toronto is working with Air Canada on an aircraft parking plan and adding personnel to keep operations running as smoothly as possible. Air Canada is urging passengers to check their flight status online and to monitor their email or text messages for updates.
Meanwhile, the government has found itself in the crosshairs. Air Canada has appealed for government-directed arbitration, which could force flight attendants back to work through the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The union, however, is adamant that government intervention would unfairly tip the scales in the airline’s favor. In a letter posted to social media, CUPE questioned, "Why would any employer bother negotiating if they know the government is going to bail them out when negotiations get tough?" Canada’s Labour Minister Patty Hajdu has urged both sides to return to the bargaining table, stating, "To be clear: deals that are made at the bargaining table are the best ones. I urge both parties to put their differences aside, come back to the bargaining table and get this done now for the many travellers who are counting on you."
As the deadline draws closer, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Air Canada, its employees, and the tens of thousands of passengers caught in the middle. Whether a last-minute deal can be struck remains to be seen, but for now, travelers are left with little choice but to watch, wait, and hope for a resolution.
