A significant disruption is impacting air travel as Air Canada faces a potential strike by its flight attendants. Over 300 flights, including numerous international routes, have been canceled, leaving passengers stranded and scrambling to make alternative arrangements during the peak summer travel season.
The conflict between the airline and the union, representing 10,000 flight attendants, has intensified. The union rejected the airline’s request for government-directed arbitration, a process that would have prevented a strike and allowed a neutral third party to mediate a new contract.
Flight attendants are prepared to strike as early as Saturday morning, and Air Canada intends to initiate a lockout of flight attendants at airports around the same time. These actions could potentially affect approximately 130,000 travelers daily.
Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu has urged both parties to collaborate with federal mediators to reach an agreement, emphasizing the importance of the situation and the reliance of Canadians on a swift resolution.
Air Canada began canceling flights on Thursday and anticipates canceling 500 flights by the end of Friday, with almost all flights grounded by Saturday morning. This complete shutdown could affect about 130,000 travelers each day, including 25,000 Canadians who may find themselves stranded abroad.
Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, reported that Air Canada canceled at least 128 domestic and 194 international flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Prior to that, on Thursday, when the airline commenced its “phased wind down” of operations, 18 domestic and four international flights were canceled.
Passengers are facing significant uncertainty. For example, Alex Laroche, a resident of Montreal, and his girlfriend, who had been saving for a European vacation since Christmas, now face the potential loss of their $8,000 trip, including nonrefundable lodging, as they await news from Air Canada regarding their Saturday night flight to Nice, France.
Laroche considered booking alternative flights with another airline, but found that most flights were nearly full and cost more than double the $3,000 they originally paid for their tickets, forcing him to wait and see what happens.
Initially upset by the union’s decision to strike, Laroche’s perspective shifted after learning about the core issues in the contract negotiations, particularly the wage issue, noting that the wage is barely livable.
Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees have been engaged in contract discussions for approximately eight months without reaching a tentative agreement.
Both sides remain divided on the issues of pay and the compensation for unpaid work performed by flight attendants when planes are not in operation.
The airline’s most recent offer included a 38% increase in total compensation, covering benefits and pensions, over a four-year period, which it claimed would make its flight attendants the best-compensated in Canada. However, the union rejected this offer, arguing that the proposed 8% raise in the first year was insufficient due to inflation.
Air Canada has stated that passengers affected by the cancellations can request a full refund through the airline’s website or mobile app.
The airline plans to offer alternative travel options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when possible. However, it acknowledges that immediate rebooking may not be feasible due to the high demand for flights during the summer travel peak.
The duration of the flight cancellations remains uncertain. Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr has indicated that it could take up to a week to fully restore operations after a tentative agreement is reached.