August 17, 2025

Hold on tight, folks! Air Canada has suddenly grounded all its flights after more than 10,000 flight attendants hit the picket lines just past 1 am on Saturday. This mega strike not only pauses flights from the main airline but also from Air Canada Rouge, its budget wing. The airline quickly warned passengers: don’t head to airports unless your flight is rebooked. The cause of this chaos? The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says all peace talks failed. Hugh Pouliot, CUPE spokesman, made it clear: “We’re here to bargain a deal, not to go on strike,” but added, “Air Canada had not responded to the union’s two most recent proposals since Tuesday.” By Friday night, a whopping 623 flights were already canceled, upsetting plans of over 100,000 people! With Air Canada running about 700 flights daily, the stoppage now impacts around 130,000 passengers each day, including roughly 25,000 Canadians stuck overseas. The union refused Air Canada's call for government-led arbitration—an option that would block their right to strike and hand power to a mediator. Air Canada promised a 38% pay rise over four years, saying their flight attendants would be the best paid in Canada. A senior attendant could earn about C$87,000 by 2027. But the union was unimpressed, calling the offer “below inflation and below market value,” and demanded pay for ground duties like boarding—currently unpaid work they say is unfair. The federal government jumped into the drama, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urging both sides to find a solution. “It is unacceptable that such little progress has been made. Canadians are counting on both parties to put forward their best efforts,” she said. Canadian business leaders also warned about the strike’s huge impact, especially now when the economy and supply chains are fragile. The Business Council of Canada pushed for binding arbitration to end the deadlock, warning of “immediate and extensive harm to all Canadians.” The timing is brutal: peak summer travel! Many travelers are stuck looking for last-minute tickets, now at sky-high prices. Take Montreal's Alex Laroche, who saved for months for an $8,000 Europe trip. With non-refundable tickets to Nice, his plans are now shaky. "At this point, it’s just a waiting game," he shared. But after hearing about the low pay, he sympathizes with the attendants, saying, "Their wage is barely livable." The strike even hits routes to India. Direct flights from Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal to New Delhi are canceled, plus connecting ones from Calgary. Travel agents say some relief might come from Air Canada's Star Alliance partners like Air India, but some delays are unavoidable. As flights remain grounded, Air Canada’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr warns it could take a full week after talks end to bring planes back to the skies. With 259 aircraft flying to 180 cities in 64 countries, the strike’s ripple extends far and wide. Experts believe neither side wants a long fight. Rafael Gomez from University of Toronto says the union’s call for fairness over unpaid pre-flight work hits home. Plus, he notes the airline can’t afford to lose mega summer money. “They’re almost playing chicken with the flight attendants.” For now, passengers are stuck in a tough spot, their travel dreams delayed as one of Canada’s busiest seasons hits a screeching halt. The question is - who will blink first in this high-flying standoff?

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Tags: Air canada strike, Flight attendants, Cupe union, Flight cancellations, Canada travel, Wage dispute,