Air Canada resumes flights after reaching a tentative agreement with the union, ending the work stoppage that stranded thousands of travellers and disrupted operations across the country and abroad.
The Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) confirmed that a deal had been reached following intense negotiations. While the agreement is subject to ratification by union members, it was sufficient to halt picket lines and begin the gradual return to service.
Flight attendants had continued job action over the weekend in defiance of a federal back-to-work order, citing long-standing concerns over unpaid labour performed while aircraft are on the ground. One of the union’s central grievances was the lack of compensation for duties such as boarding procedures and safety checks conducted before takeoff.
Air Canada began relaunching service Today, morning, with a limited schedule, including international departures. The first flights included AC009 from Toronto to Tokyo-Narita, AC556 from Vancouver to Los Angeles, and AC489 from Montreal to Toronto.
A total of 155 flights were scheduled to depart from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, with operations expected to ramp up gradually over the coming days.
“Restoring global operations will take up to ten days, as aircraft and crew are out of position and mandatory maintenance checks must be completed,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada. “We’re focused on getting our customers moving again as quickly and safely as possible.”
While operations have resumed, Air Canada advised travellers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport. The airline warned that some additional cancellations are expected during the recovery period as crews and aircraft are repositioned.
Customers with cancelled flights are eligible for full refunds, travel credits, or rebooking options, including flights on partner airlines within the Star Alliance network, though availability remains limited due to peak summer travel demand.
To support rebooking efforts, the airline has assigned 5,000 customer service agents to assist travellers through its website and call centres.
Air Canada will implement a special disruption policy beginning Wednesday, August 20, to reimburse out-of-pocket transportation expenses incurred by travellers during the labour disruption.
“As we work to rebuild confidence, we’re introducing measures to support affected customers,” said Nasr. “This includes a transparent dashboard tracking our recovery and policies aimed at compensating passengers who experienced disruptions.”
The work stoppage occurred during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, affecting domestic and international routes and prompting concern from travellers and industry observers alike.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and PAL were unaffected by the job action and continue to operate as scheduled.
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline and a founding member of the Star Alliance network. The company operates flights to more than 180 destinations globally and has been recognized with a Four-Star rating by Skytrax.
Please check aircanada.com or the Air Canada app for the latest updates on flight status, travel policies, and rebooking options.