Air Canada Faces Operational Shutdown as Flight Attendants Strike

Air Canada has been forced to suspend all flights due to a strike by its flight attendants, causing major disruptions for its extensive passenger base. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing the 10,000 striking flight attendants, confirmed the strike action. Air Canada, with its wide-ranging international network to 180 cities, has halted all operations in response. The union was legally authorized to strike after issuing a 72-hour notice, with the strike starting early Saturday. Before the strike, Air Canada had progressively scaled down its services. By Friday evening, the airline had canceled nearly 623 flights, impacting over 100,000 travelers, and ultimately cancelled its entire Saturday flight schedule. The striking employees are calling for improved wages and compensation for ground responsibilities, specifically those related to the boarding process. The union has declined to participate in arbitration, despite requests from the government and the airline. Air Canada has presented its latest offer, stating that a senior flight attendant could earn an average of CAN$87,000 by 2027. Prior to the strike, the Business Council of Canada cautioned that a work stoppage at Air Canada could destabilize Canada’s economy, potentially impacting the country’s economic supply chains.