Air Canada cabin crew strike demands raise pay, snuffs flights

Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike, Flights Cancelled

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced a full strike by Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants, causing a complete shutdown of the airline’s operations and disrupting travel for 130,000 daily passengers.

Key Strike Details

• CUPE began its strike at 12:58 am after delivering a 72‑hour notice on Wednesday.
• Air Canada suspended all flights, advising customers not to visit the airport and expressing regret for the customer impact.
• As of 8:00 pm Friday, the airline had cancelled 623 flights affecting more than 100,000 passengers; the full 700‑flight daily schedule was scrapped for Saturday.

Union Demands

The union seeks wage increases and compensation for unpaid ground work, such as time spent during boarding. Rafael Gomez, head of the University of Toronto’s Center for Industrial Relations, noted that it is common practice worldwide to pay flight attendants based on time spent in the air. Gomez praised the union’s communication campaign, which has shaped public perception of unfairness.

Impact on Passengers

Air Canada’s sudden halt of all operations has left millions of passengers without flights, creating chaos for a summer travel season that typically relies on the airline’s direct access to 180 cities worldwide.

Air Canada Grounds Mark Strike on Highways

At the bustling hub of Toronto’s airport, the sight of Air Canada aircraft signals the brewing tension that has unfolded in the winter months. While passengers jostle for seats, a quieter insight emerges from the workforce that feeds the fleet.

Voices from the Flight Deck

According to the passenger union CUPE, a typical traveller may wonder: “I’m waiting to board, a flight attendant hands me a coat, but they look like they’re unpaid for that work.” This question exposes the nature of the most recent fly‑by‑fire argument.

Union’s Demand & Airline Offer

• Air Canada’s latest plea, released Thursday, states that a senior flight attendant would earn an average CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027.
• CUPE has branded the airline’s proposals as “below inflation” and “below market value.”
• Despite federal offers to mediate, the union continues to reject provisions for an independent arbitration settlement.

Expectation of a Rapid Confrontation

Union representative Gomez maintained that the strike would not last long. “This is peak season,” he added, emphasizing that an airline unwilling to lose hundreds of billions of revenue feels like “almost playing chicken” with flight attendants.

Economic Stress Beyond Domestic Bounds

While Canada’s economy shows resilience, trade policy from President Donald Trump’s administration has begun to feel the pressure. Tariffs mainly target auto, aluminum, and steel—sectors vital to Canadian manufacturing.

Business Council Warns of a National Disruption

In a pre‑strike statement, the Business Council of Canada issued a stark warning: “At a time when Canada is dealing with unprecedented pressures on our critical economic supply chains, the disruption of national air passenger travel and cargo transport services would cause immediate and extensive harm to all Canadians.”