Air Canada Prepares Gradual Return To Skies After Flight Attendant Agreement With Cupe

Published on August 19, 2025

Air Canada announced coming that it will statesman a phased resumption of its flights pursuing a mediated statement pinch nan Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), facilitated by mutually agreed-upon mediator William Kaplan. The mediation required CUPE to guarantee nan contiguous return of nan airline’s 10,000 formation attendants, allowing Air Canada and its subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, to restart operations aft being grounded since August 16, marking a cardinal measurement toward restoring normal formation schedules and easing recreation disruptions for passengers.

“The suspension of our work is highly difficult for our customers. We profoundly regret and apologize for nan effect connected them of this labour disruption. Our privilege now is to get them moving arsenic quickly arsenic possible. Restarting a awesome bearer for illustration Air Canada is simply a analyzable undertaking. Full restoration whitethorn require a week aliases more, truthful we inquire for our customers’ patience and knowing complete nan coming days. I guarantee them that everyone astatine Air Canada is doing everything imaginable to alteration them to recreation soon,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

Air Canada has outlined plans to gradually resume its formation operations, pinch nan first flights scheduled for nan evening of August 19. However, passengers should beryllium alert that a afloat return to nan airline’s normal schedule whitethorn return 7 to 10 days owed to nan request to reposition craft and unit that were affected during nan caller suspension of services. During this transitional period, immoderate flights whitethorn beryllium cancelled aliases rescheduled arsenic nan hose useful to stabilize operations, and travelers are advised to show their formation position closely.

Passengers pinch confirmed bookings are powerfully encouraged to verify whether their flights are operating earlier heading to nan airport. This tin beryllium done done Air Canada’s charismatic website, aircanada.com, aliases via nan Air Canada mobile app. Only those flights confirmed arsenic operational should beryllium boarded, arsenic different flights whitethorn still beryllium taxable to cancellations aliases adjustments. To support affected customers, Air Canada is providing aggregate options. Travelers whose flights are cancelled tin take to person a afloat refund, get a in installments for early travel, aliases beryllium rebooked connected replacement flights pinch different carriers. It is important to note, however, that rebooking options whitethorn beryllium constricted owed to precocious request during nan highest summertime recreation season, which whitethorn impact nan readiness of seats connected different airlines.

As portion of modular procedure, Air Canada will not make immoderate nationalist statements astir nan position of nan statement pinch nan Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) until nan ratification process is afloat completed. During nan ratification play aliases nether nan binding arbitration process, strikes aliases lockouts are not permitted, providing a unafraid situation for passengers to scheme their travel. This ensures that travelers tin book flights, make arrangements, and recreation pinch confidence, knowing that operations will proceed without disruption.

The hose emphasizes that while nan resumption of services is underway, patience will beryllium required from passengers arsenic nan operational schedule gradually returns to normal. By pursuing formation position updates and taking advantage of nan options offered for cancelled aliases rescheduled flights, customers tin navigate this play smoothly. Air Canada is committed to minimizing disruption and restoring afloat work arsenic quickly arsenic possible, ensuring travelers tin proceed to scope destinations crossed Canada and astir nan world safely and reliably.