Air Canada confirmed on Tuesday that operations will begin resuming after a mediated settlement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) brought an end to a strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants. The labour dispute, which grounded flights since August 16, left tens of thousands of passengers stranded during peak summer travel.
The airline said the first flights are expected to depart Tuesday evening, though full restoration of service could take seven to ten days as aircraft and crews are repositioned. Customers with confirmed bookings are advised to travel only if their flights are listed as operating. For those affected by cancellations, Air Canada is offering refunds, travel credits, or rebookings on partner carriers where space is available.
At the heart of the negotiations was the long-standing issue of unpaid duties, including boarding responsibilities, that flight attendants perform before takeoff. CUPE said the tentative deal marks a “historic” breakthrough for Canadian aviation workers, ending unpaid work and setting a precedent in the industry.
“This is transformational for flight attendants,” CUPE leaders said in a statement, adding that the agreement challenges long-accepted norms in airline operations.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ruled the strike unlawful after CUPE ignored two separate back-to-work orders. Ottawa had already invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to require binding arbitration, but the union initially resisted. The mediated deal was reached only after mounting legal and political pressure.
The strike disrupted an estimated 130,000 travellers daily, forcing Air Canada to suspend its profit forecast for the year. CEO Michael Rousseau apologized for the “extremely difficult” experience faced by customers, promising the airline will restore schedules as quickly as possible.
While details of the settlement remain confidential, union members will vote on the agreement in the coming weeks. Until then, Air Canada continues working to stabilize its network and rebuild passenger confidence after one of its most disruptive labour disputes in years.
