Air Canada scraps plan to restart operations after CUPE defies CIRB directive

Air Canada is suspending its initial plan to resume limited flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge today (Aug. 17) after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) “illegally directed its flight attendant members to defy a direction from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to return to work,” according to a press release issued Sunday (Aug. 17). 

The airline said it will resume flights as of tomorrow evening (Aug. 18).

All operations of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge were suspended August 16, 2025, due to a strike by CUPE.

In accordance with the Government of Canada's direction, the CIRB ordered a resumption of flight activities and directed the flight attendants to return to work.

This order ended both CUPE's strike and the lockout Air Canada had imposed in response.

“Approximately 240 flights scheduled to operate beginning this afternoon have now been cancelled,” Air Canada says.

Typically, the carriers operate 700 flights a day, the airline says. 

The update comes after Air Canada's flight attendants said they will remain on strike and spurn a government return-to-work order they called unconstitutional that would send them back to their duties by 2 p.m. ET today. 

In a statement, CUPE said members would remain on strike and invited Air Canada back to the table to “negotiate a fair deal.”

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a statement that members would remain on strike and invited Air Canada back to the table to “negotiate a fair deal.”

By 10:30 a.m. ET at Toronto Pearson airport, hundreds of CUPE members had assembled outside, holding signs and chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, unpaid work has got to go," CTV News reported. 

The picket lines highlighted the union’s push for better wages and pay for unpaid work during ground delays — concerns CUPE claims have been overlooked in contract negotiations for more than ten years.

What now? 

Customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and are strongly advised not to go the airport unless they have confirmed flights on other airlines.

Air Canada says it will offer those with cancelled flights options, including obtaining a full refund or receiving a credit for future travel. The carrier will also offer to rebook customers on other carriers, although capacity is currently limited due to the peak summer travel season.

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

This is a developing story.

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