Air Canada Ends Indefinite Strike, Airline to Resume Operations Tonight

Air Canada flight attendants have ended their indefinite strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the airline, paving the way for flights to resume on Tuesday evening.

The strike, launched just after midnight on Saturday, saw about 10,000 flight attendants walk off the job over pay disputes and unpaid ground duties. The work stoppage triggered widespread cancellations and disruptions, affecting nearly half a million passengers in just four days.

Despite a back-to-work order issued by a federal regulatory tribunal on Sunday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, had refused to comply, leaving Air Canada unable to restore even partial service.

However, following renewed negotiations on Monday night, CUPE announced that a tentative deal had been reached.

“The strike has ended. We have a tentative agreement we will bring forward to you,” CUPE’s Air Canada branch said in a statement, adding that members must cooperate fully with the resumption of operations.

Air Canada confirmed the breakthrough, saying it had secured a “mediated agreement” with the union. The airline noted that while flights would begin departing Tuesday night, a complete return to normal operations could take up to ten days.

“Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding,” Air Canada president Michael Rousseau said.

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