Air Canada strike to halt most flights, stranding thousands
- Air Canada is preparing to suspend most flights over the next three days due to a labor dispute with its flight attendants' union.
- Approximately 130,000 daily passengers could be affected.
- Affected customers will be eligible for full refunds or alternative travel arrangements, though availability is limited.
- The strike will impact U.S. travelers with connecting itineraries through Canadian hubs or direct flights to Canada.
Air Canada is preparing to indefinitely suspend most of its flights over the next three days after hitting an impasse in contract negotiations with its flight attendants' union.
The union issued a notice of intention to strike, and Air Canada said a "phased wind down of most of its operations" is the best way to minimize the pain for its customers. However, the airline is warning that many passengers could be stuck while the strike goes on.
"Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry approximately 130,000 customers a day who could be affected by a disruption, this includes the 25,000 Canadians that the airline flies home from abroad each day, who could be stranded," the airline said in a statement.
The primary disagreement between the airline and its flight attendants' union appears to be over wages. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents Air Canada's flight attendants, said negotiators have not been satisfied with the airline's offers for wage increases and other forms of compensation, and it rejected a proposal by the airline to continue contract talks in arbitration.
The airline said flights operated by Jazz and PAL, its regional affiliates, will continue as normal during the strike, but those carriers only represent about 20% of Air Canada's total network capacity.
"The first flights will be cancelled August 14, with more on August 15, with a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge on August 16," the airline's statement said.
It's unclear how long the strike could last.
Air Canada said customers whose flights are canceled will be eligible for a full refund if they do not travel on alternative flights arranged by the airline with other carriers.
"The company has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options to the extent possible. Customers will be notified of alternative travel options that are identified for them," Air Canada's statement said. "However, given other carriers are already very full due to the summer travel peak, securing such capacity will take time and, in many cases, will not be immediately possible."
What an Air Canada Strike will mean for US travelers
Air Canada does not operate any domestic flights within the U.S. Still, it is a major carrier for international connecting itineraries, and a key link between the U.S. and Canada.
U.S. travelers with plans to visit Canada in the coming days and weeks, or to connect through Canadian hubs to destinations in Europe, Asia and beyond, should keep a close eye out for notifications from the airline about their flights.
Even passengers who aren't booked to fly on Air Canada could be indirectly affected as other airlines try to absorb the passengers displaced by the strike.
United Airlines and Air Canada are close partners as members of Star Alliance, so it's likely that United's international and trans-border flights will be a little fuller during the strike.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for Paste BN. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.