Air Canada strike: Ottawa seeks a solution as flights are cancelled

Sunday 17 August 2025 - 15:45

The Canadian government stepped in on Saturday in an attempt to end a strike by Air Canada flight attendants that has paralyzed the country’s largest airline and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Employment Minister Patty Hajdu urged both parties to “resume and continue their duties,” warning that the dispute was adding to the “financial burden” of Canadians.

The strike, launched by more than 10,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), is demanding better pay and compensation for ground duties such as boarding, which are currently unpaid. In response, Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge declared a lockout.

The federal government has asked the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to arbitrate. The Board could order operations to resume, but the process may take up to 48 hours. In the meantime, the strike is affecting 130,000 passengers daily, with the airline warning of additional cancellations beyond Sunday, August 17.

Passengers expressed frustration, with many stranded at airports. “They are trying to put us on another flight, but nothing is guaranteed,” said one traveler in Toronto.

Economists have warned that the strike could worsen Canada’s already fragile economy, which is under pressure from U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automotive exports. The Canadian Business Council has called the dispute a “serious and immediate risk for all Canadians.”