Air Canada to cancel 500 flights by Friday as strike looms

An Air Canada plane is parked at Pearson International Airport on Thursday. With a looming flight attendant strike, the company announced that all flights will be paused by early Saturday morning unless a deal is reached. (Credit: Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Air Canada says about 500 flights are expected to be cancelled by the end of Friday as an impending strike by its flight attendants looms.

“Several dozen” flights were cancelled on Thursday, company executives said during a press conference that was cut short by protests by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), who entered the room holding signs that said things such as “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” and “Poverty Wages = UnCanadian.”

“We find CUPE’s decision to strike very regretful, and the impact that this is going to have on our customers is profound and we’re going to do everything possible to support them through it,” chief operating officer Mark Nasr said on Thursday. Air Canada executives are interrupted by Air Canada flight attendants during a press conference in Toronto on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the airline announced cancellations over the next three days, with a complete cessation of flying on Saturday.

The disruptions at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge could affect approximately 130,000 customers a day, including 25,000 Canadians flying home from abroad each day.

The company said a stoppage would affect more than 40,000 employees and over 250 aircraft that fly to 200 destinations in more than 65 countries.

“It’s simply not the kind of system that we can start or stop at the push of a button,” Nasr said.

Air Canada started suspending flights on Thursday after CUPE, which represents 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, gave the airline notice on Wednesday morning that it intends to begin a strike, commencing just after midnight on Saturday.

Nasr said CUPE’s decision to call a strike at “the first possible opportunity” was “deeply disturbing” and will have an impact on the airline’s customers as well as bring uncertainty to the broader Canadian economy.

“Think of all of the tourism, the local communities, the hotels and restaurants, especially in the peak of the summer, that are relying on people being able to travel,” he said in an interview. So the whole situation is unfortunate.”

Air Canada said customers whose flights are cancelled will be promptly notified and can obtain a full refund online through its website or mobile app. It also said customers without confirmed flights should not go to the airport.

Nasr said refunds will be processed as soon as the traveller can request it, but it may take up to five days for the refund to appear in the customer’s account, depending on the credit card or bank systems.

The company said it has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options, which they will be notified of if identified.

Air Canada to suspend flights amid potential flight attendant strike Air Canada's flight attendants plan to strike from Saturday

Story Continues

Executives said the airline is working to rebook customers on more than 120 other carriers, including its competitors. However, they said the peak of the summer season means very few seats are available.

For those that cannot be accommodated, Air Canada will offer two options: a full refund or an option to rebook their travel for a later date without any change fee.

Air Canada said it has asked for the government to consider intervening should serious disruptions ensue, but said it wants to avoid getting to that point.

“We’re trying to still do everything possible to bring this situation to a resolution and, of course, there is enough time, even now, to bring it to a resolution and minimize the impact,” Nasr said.

In terms of cancellations, he said the airline will try to give enough time — approximately eight to 12 hours prior to departure — so that customers don’t come to the airport.

Nasr said if a strike does start on Saturday, flights will be cancelled indefinitely until the strike is over.

• Email: [email protected]