Air Canada says it will begin cancelling flights starting Thursday as part of a phased plan to suspend operations if no agreement is reached with its flight attendants’ union.
The airline has indicated that additional cancellations would follow on Friday, with a full suspension of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights possible by Saturday.
This timeline was outlined in Air Canada’s official lockout notice, issued shortly after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) served a 72-hour strike notice early Wednesday morning.
The notice means union members could begin strike action at 12:58 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.
Within an hour of the union’s move, Air Canada issued its own lockout notice. The airline has said negotiations have reached an impasse, while CUPE claims the company no longer wants to negotiate.
CUPE represents approximately 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
Air Canada Express flights, operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines, are not affected and will continue to operate as scheduled.
On Monday, the airline proposed settling the matter through binding arbitration, a process that would have suspended both the union’s right to strike and the company’s right to lock out employees.
The union rejected that offer, saying members had voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action if necessary, with a 99.7 per cent strike mandate approved last week.
The airline says the gradual wind-down is intended to reduce the risk of passengers being stranded and to allow time for alternative travel arrangements. It also enables the company to reposition aircraft and crews in preparation for a potential service resumption.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry about 130,000 passengers daily, including thousands of Canadians returning from abroad. The airline says affected customers will be notified and offered full refunds.
It has also arranged limited alternative travel options with other carriers and introduced a flexible rebooking policy.
Travellers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to use online tools or the mobile app for updates.
Customers without confirmed bookings are encouraged not to go to the airport.
