Air Canada Flight Attendants Begin Strike, All Flights Grounded

Air Canada’s flight attendants commenced a nationwide strike on Saturday, forcing the airline to suspend all operations and stranding more than 130,000 passengers daily at the peak of the summer travel season.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 flight attendants, confirmed in a statement: “We are now officially on strike.” The strike began at 12:58 am, shortly after CUPE became legally entitled to take industrial action.

Air Canada Shuts Down Operations

In response, Air Canada which connects passengers to 180 destinations worldwide announced a complete shutdown of services.

“Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport,” the airline said, while expressing “deep regret for the effect the strike is having on customers.”

By Friday evening, the carrier had already cancelled 623 flights, affecting more than 100,000 passengers. Its full 700-flight daily schedule has been cancelled for Saturday.

Union Demands Fair Pay for Ground Work

The strike centres on calls for wage increases and recognition of unpaid ground duties such as assisting passengers during boarding.

Rafael Gomez, head of the University of Toronto’s Center for Industrial Relations, explained that flight attendants worldwide are typically paid only for in-flight time, not ground duties. “An average passenger sees attendants working during boarding, but they’re technically not being paid for that time,” he noted.

CUPE has rejected Air Canada’s latest pay offer, which would see senior flight attendants earn CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027, calling it “below inflation and below market value.”

Wider Economic Impact

The strike comes as Canada faces mounting economic strain linked to U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and auto sectors. The Business Council of Canada warned the stoppage could cause “immediate and extensive harm” to both passenger travel and cargo transport across the country.

Despite the disruption, analysts predict the strike may not last long. “This is peak season,” Gomez said. “The airline does not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue… They’re almost playing chicken with the flight attendants.”