After standoff, Air Canada to gradually resume flights starting August 19

Air Canada announced it will gradually restart flights beginning Tuesday evening (August 19) after reaching a mediated settlement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants. The carrier had been forced to suspend all operations since Saturday (August 16) due to the strike.

The agreement was achieved under the supervision of mediator William Kaplan, mutually appointed by both parties. As part of the settlement, the union committed to having flight attendants immediately return to work, enabling the restart of Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge.

“The suspension of our service was extremely difficult for our customers. We deeply regret and apologize for this disruption. Our priority now is to get them moving as quickly as possible. Restarting an airline the size of Air Canada is a complex task, and full restoration may take a week or more, so we ask for patience and understanding in the coming days,” said Michael Rousseau, President and CEO of Air Canada.

The first flights are scheduled for the evening of August 19, though the airline expects it will take seven to ten days to fully stabilize operations, as aircraft and crews remain out of position. During this period, some cancellations will continue until the network is fully restored.

Air Canada advised passengers to go to the airport only if they have a confirmed booking and their flight is listed as operating on the company’s website or mobile app. Customers affected by cancellations will be offered a full refund, a travel credit, or rebooking on other airlines, although availability remains limited due to peak summer demand.

The airline also noted that while the ratification process or any arbitration is ongoing, neither a strike nor a lockout is possible, ensuring customers can book and travel with confidence.

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