Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike, Grounding Flights and Stranding Passengers

Air Canada’s flight attendants initiated a strike on Saturday, compelling the airline to halt all operations. This shutdown has caused significant travel disruptions for approximately 130,000 passengers daily. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing the 10,000 striking flight attendants, confirmed the strike. Air Canada, which operates flights to 180 international destinations, responded by suspending all services. The union gained the legal right to strike after issuing a 72-hour notice on Wednesday, with the strike officially commencing early Saturday morning. Prior to the work stoppage, Air Canada had already begun to scale back its operations. By Friday evening, the airline had canceled nearly 623 flights, impacting over 100,000 travelers. The entire schedule of 700 daily flights was scrapped for Saturday. The striking workers are seeking wage increases and compensation for unpaid ground duties, including those during the boarding process. The union has rejected requests from the federal government and Air Canada to resolve the issues through arbitration. Air Canada stated its latest offer, which proposed that a senior flight attendant could earn an average of CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027. The Business Council of Canada expressed concerns that the strike could negatively affect Canada’s economy, citing potential damage to supply chains.