Air Canada cabin staff go on strike, grounding hundreds of flights

16/8/2025 15:41

Air Canada's unionized flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday morning after pay talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that is expected to disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers.



The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the 72-hour stoppage in a social media post just before 0100 ET in the first strike by flight attendants since 1985.



The airline said on Saturday it had suspended all flights for Air Canada and its budget arm Air Canada Rouge, after cabin crew represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike.



"About 130,000 customers will be impacted each day that the strike continues," Air Canada said in a statement.



"Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on an airline other than Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge," the airline said.