Canada Halts Operations of Air Canada Due to Strike of Flight Attendants

• The Government of Canada has called for mandatory arbitration due to the strike.
• The strike of flight attendants has led to the cancellation of 700 Air Canada flights.
• The union demands increased salaries and improved working conditions.

The Canadian government announced on September 16, 2025, about the end of the flight attendants' strike at Air Canada. The strike, which started on Saturday night, forced the largest airline in Canada to cancel all 700 of its daily flights, leaving over 100,000 passengers without the possibility of traveling during peak summer season.

The government demands a timely end to the strike and has called on the Canadian Labor Relations Board to enforce mandatory arbitration between Air Canada and the striking flight attendants. The reason for the strike was demands for increased wages and better working conditions. Flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), protested against the arbitration, asserting that the company is not addressing key issues.

The Government of Canada, according to the words of Labor Minister Patty Hajdu, decided to intervene to support the stability of the economy and ensure the supply chains remain intact. Hajdu noted that Air Canada is expected to resume its operations within five days after the strike is concluded.

The airline proposed to flight attendants a compensation increase of 38% over four years, but the union considers this proposal insufficient. They demand compensation for time spent on the ground between flights, as well as for additional passengers during boarding on the aircraft.

In addition, the government is already intervening in labor disputes in other sectors, such as rail and port transportation, and is now prepared to intervene once again to resolve the conflict between Air Canada and its employees.

Tags: Aviation