Air Canada and Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Agreement to End Strike

Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing over 10,000 flight attendants, have reached a tentative agreement to end a strike that began on August 16, 2025. The strike had led to the suspension of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, affecting approximately 130,000 passengers daily.

The agreement addresses key issues, including compensation for previously unpaid tasks such as passenger boarding and deplaning. CUPE stated that "unpaid work is over," indicating that these duties will now be compensated.

Air Canada plans to gradually resume operations starting Tuesday evening, with full restoration of services expected to take up to a week. CEO Michael Rousseau acknowledged the complexity of restarting operations and requested customers' patience during this period.

The strike had been declared illegal by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which ordered flight attendants to return to work. However, the union initially defied this directive, continuing the strike until the tentative agreement was reached.

Passengers affected by flight cancellations are eligible to request full refunds or alternative travel arrangements through Air Canada's website or mobile app.

This labor dispute highlights growing concerns over compensation for airline crews, particularly regarding unpaid duties performed on the ground. The resolution of this strike may influence future labor negotiations within the North American airline industry.