Air Canada flights remain suspended pending outcome of CIRB process

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Sunday, August 17 at 4:45 a.m. EST, Air Canada announced that it would restart flights after the Canadian government issued a directive to end the flight attendant strike. Click here for the latest on this story. 

All flights at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge remain suspended pending the outcome of a Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) process that was announced earlier Saturday (Aug. 16).

The directive, made by the Government of Canada, has ordered binding arbitration in Air Canada’s contract negotiations with its flight attendants, which officially went on strike early Saturday morning (Aug. 16).

The action was announced by Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, in a statement earlier today. 

“I am exercising this authority because it is critical to maintaining and securing industrial peace, protecting Canadians and promoting conditions to resolve the dispute,” Minister Hajdu wrote. “Despite the parties’ resolution of several key differences, the CIRB is best positioned to help them find a solution on the outstanding items.”

In a press release late Saturday, Air Canada said customers whose flights are cancelled are being notified and offered options that include a full refund, a future travel credit or rebooking on another airline. 

"Those whose flights are cancelled are strongly advised not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking on a flight by another carrier," the airline said. 

READ MORE: Ottawa invokes Section 107 of Labour Code to end AC strike; "Strike still on," says union

Since the strike began, Air Canada says it has been “cancelling flights on a rolling basis." 

Currently, all flights by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge are cancelled until the afternoon (EDT) of August 17, 2025, the airline said. 

Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL, however, continue to operate as normal.

“Air Canada deeply regrets the disruption's impact on customers,” the company stated. 

Additional customer information, including an FAQ, is available here. 

"A terrible precedent"

Air Canada’s flight attendants are seeking improved wages and compensation for work they do before flights take off and after they land.

In a statement Saturday, Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, said the government’s latest action sets a “terrible precedent.”

"Now, when we're at the bargaining table with an obstinate employer, the Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want - hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation,” said Lesosky.

Lesosky noted that Minister Hajdu's remarks will “not ensure labour peace at Air Canada.”

“This will only ensure that the unresolved issues will continue to worsen by pushing them down the road,” Lesosky said. "Nor will it ensure labour peace in this industry — because unpaid work is an unfair practice that pervades nearly the entire airline sector, and will continue to arise in negotiations between flight attendants and other carriers."

CUPE issued a press release late Saturday, pointing out that a former Air Canada legal counsel, Maryse Tremblay, will rule on whether to end the strike at the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

The union is calling this "an almost unthinkable display of conflict-of-interest." 

"CUPE requested Tremblay recuse herself from chairing the proceedings. Despite CUPE’s request, Tremblay will hear the case," the union wrote. "Tremblay, who spent her career advocating for the interests of Air Canada, was appointed to chair the CIRB by the Carney government. It is increasingly difficult to escape the appearance of collusion between Air Canada and the Liberal government throughout this process." 

Air Canada grounds airplanes

CUPE served Air Canada the statutory 72-hour strike notice on August 13, 2025. In response to the strike, Air Canada actioned a lockout of its flight attendants at 1:30 a.m. ET. on Aug. 16. 

Air Canada has since been gradually reducing its schedule of approximately 700 daily flights to manage the labour disruption created by CUPE's strike notice, while working to reach a new, negotiated collective agreement and avoid further labour disruption.

Approximately 130,000 customers will be impacted each day that the strike continues, the airline says.

This is a developing story. 

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