Air travel in Canada is facing major turbulence as Air Canada begins canceling flights amid a lockout of flight attendants. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the workers, voted this week to strike.
In response, Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, issued a lockout notice effective Saturday, August 16.
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Number of flight attendants now off the job and key issue
Approximately 10,000 flight attendants are now off the job. CNN reports the two sides have been negotiating for months but have been unable to reach a deal.
The main sticking point: “ground pay,” or compensation for work done when planes are not in the air.
Union reaction
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, issued a statement. He said, “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 countered, saying the union rejected an offer Monday that included a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, plus benefits. It was an offer that Air Canada says addressed ground pay and would have made them the best-compensated flight attendants in Canada.
Air Canada CEO statement
Michael Rousseau, President and CEO of Air Canada, said in a statement, “We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve. However, the disappointing conduct of CUPE’s negotiators and the union’s stated intention to launch a strike puts us in a position where our only responsible course of action is to provide certainty by implementing an orderly suspension of Air Canada’s and Air Canada Rouge’s operations through a lockout.”
Rousseau warned that unplanned or uncontrolled shutdowns in the airline industry can cause chaos for travelers and make matters worse.
Number of Air Canada flights, passengers affected
The airline says 500 flights will be grounded by midnight Friday as a gradual suspension of flights kicks in.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will halt all flying on Saturday.
“To provide customers certainty, Air Canada will begin a phased wind-down of most of its operations to be completed over the next three days,” the airline said.
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Air Canada has about 130,000 passengers per day, including flights to dozens of American airports.
Air Canada has about 130,000 passengers per day. It says about 25,000 Canadians fly home to Canada from abroad every day and they now could be stranded. The airline operates approximately 430 daily flights to and from the United States. Those flights include stops at more than four dozen American airports.
What happens from here
Air Canada says it will attempt to rebook passengers on competitor airlines. However, it admits that, given the summer travel season, it will be difficult.
Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families, went on X, calling on both sides to resume negotiations. She said, “I urge both parties to put their differences aside, come back to the bargaining table and get this done now for the many travelers who are counting on you.”
Hajdu says she has met with both sides. She is now urging the flight attendants’ union to respond to Air Canada’s offer of binding arbitration.
Even so, the airline admits it would take at least a week to get operations fully restarted once an agreement is reached.
This article was updated Aug. 17. A previous version incorrectly identified Wesley Lesosky as Wendy Lesosky.
