Air Canada is gradually resuming operations from Wednesday after reaching an agreement brokered by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents about 10,400 flight attendants.
Key facts
The CUPE posted a statement on Facebook saying that their mediation with Air Canada had been completed and that “the strike is over.”
The union said its negotiators had reached a tentative agreement with the airline, which will be presented to members for ratification.
Air Canada confirmed the tentative deal and noted that a key condition is the union’s agreement that all striking flight attendants “immediately return to work.” The union called on striking flight attendants to “fully co-operate with the resumption of operations.”
The airline said it would “gradually resume operations” starting Tuesday evening.
However, the carrier’s president and CEO, Michael Russo, said the resumption was a complex process and that it could take up to a week to fully restore all flights.
The airline said the first resumed flights are scheduled for Tuesday evening, but “a return to full, regular service could take seven to ten days as aircraft and crews are out of position.” As a result, some flights may be cancelled during the week “until the schedule stabilises.”
The carrier said that only customers with confirmed bookings whose flights are listed as operating should go to the airport. For others, Air Canada will offer a full refund or rebooking on other airlines.
Cancelled flights
A total of 437 Air Canada flights were cancelled on Tuesday, according to FlightAware, representing 73% of the carrier’s scheduled flights for the day. On Monday, 602 Air Canada flights were cancelled as the carrier’s operations were suspended.
Statements from the union and Air Canada did not provide any details about the preliminary deal. In a Facebook post, CUPE said: “We will have Zoom presentations and ratification of this contract. Your right to vote on your pay has been preserved, and we will go over that in the Zoom presentation.”
