Air Canada has grounded all flights due to a strike initiated by its flight attendants, impacting travel for approximately 130,000 passengers each day. The union, representing over 10,000 cabin crew members, confirmed the 72-hour industrial action that commenced early Saturday morning. The airline has warned travelers to avoid the airport unless they are using a different airline, leading to significant disruptions in travel plans.
The strike began at 00:58 ET (04:58 GMT) on Saturday, prompting Air Canada to cancel about 500 flights each day, including those from its budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. Flight attendants are protesting for better salary structures and demand pay for the time spent on the ground while planes are not in operation. Major Canadian airports will see picketing by the flight attendants as travelers seek alternatives for their bookings.
Air Canada expressed regret over the disruptions and stated it had already canceled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers before the strike started. The airline proposed a total compensation increase of 38% over four years, with a 25% salary raise in the first year; however, the union labeled this offer as inadequate, describing it as "below inflation, below market value, and below minimum wage."
Earlier this month, a striking 99.7% of union members voted in favor of the strike, and despite being urged by Canadian jobs minister Patty Hajdu, Air Canada and the union have not returned to the negotiation table. The union criticized Air Canada for seeking government intervention rather than engaging in good faith talks. In their statement addressing members, the union maintained that they had been negotiating earnestly for over eight months but felt Air Canada had acted counterproductively by asking for arbitration from the federal government.
The strike began at 00:58 ET (04:58 GMT) on Saturday, prompting Air Canada to cancel about 500 flights each day, including those from its budget subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. Flight attendants are protesting for better salary structures and demand pay for the time spent on the ground while planes are not in operation. Major Canadian airports will see picketing by the flight attendants as travelers seek alternatives for their bookings.
Air Canada expressed regret over the disruptions and stated it had already canceled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers before the strike started. The airline proposed a total compensation increase of 38% over four years, with a 25% salary raise in the first year; however, the union labeled this offer as inadequate, describing it as "below inflation, below market value, and below minimum wage."
Earlier this month, a striking 99.7% of union members voted in favor of the strike, and despite being urged by Canadian jobs minister Patty Hajdu, Air Canada and the union have not returned to the negotiation table. The union criticized Air Canada for seeking government intervention rather than engaging in good faith talks. In their statement addressing members, the union maintained that they had been negotiating earnestly for over eight months but felt Air Canada had acted counterproductively by asking for arbitration from the federal government.
