Air Canada Strike Threat Looms—Here’s What It Could Mean for Your Travel Plans
So here’s what’s happening with Air Canada—and if you’ve got any travel plans coming up, you’re going to want to keep an eye on this. The airline’s flight attendants are in the middle of a strike vote, and if it passes, they could walk off the job as early as mid-August. That could mean massive flight delays or cancellations—right in the middle of one of Canada’s busiest travel seasons.
The union representing Air Canada flight attendants, which is part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), has been in contract negotiations with the airline. The main sticking points? Wages, unpaid work hours, and better working conditions. These flight attendants are coming off a 10-year contract, and during that time, the union says its members have lost significant purchasing power. They’re also pushing to get paid for duties they currently perform for free—like safety checks, boarding, and deplaning—which aren’t included in their paid hours.
Right now, they’re only paid from the moment the plane’s doors close to the moment they open again. All that work before takeoff and after landing? That’s unpaid. CUPE is calling for fair compensation and wants that to change.
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Air Canada has responded, saying this strike vote is a “normal step” in negotiations and that they’re focused on reaching a deal. But if no agreement is reached, a 72-hour strike notice could be issued as early as August 16. That would affect both Air Canada mainline and Rouge flights.
Now, to put this in perspective: Air Canada operates around 1,100 flights every day. If a strike does go ahead, the impact on travelers could be huge. Delays, cancellations, and rerouted plans could ripple across Canada and beyond. Think of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary—all major hubs that could see significant disruption.
Travel experts are already advising people to prepare. One option is to buy cancellation and interruption insurance—just make sure it covers labor disruptions, since some insurers consider it a known risk once a strike vote is underway. Another strategy? Book a refundable ticket on another airline as a backup, just in case your Air Canada flight gets canceled. Yes, it’ll cost more upfront, but you can cancel and get your money back if everything goes smoothly.
If you’re already at your destination when a strike happens, things get trickier. Insurance might not cover a return flight if you didn’t buy that policy before leaving the country, so it’s better to plan ahead.
According to Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations, if your flight is canceled due to a strike—which is considered outside the airline’s control—you’re entitled to a rebooking within 48 hours, or a refund if that’s not possible.
Bottom line? A strike isn’t guaranteed, but the risk is real. If it happens, it could send shockwaves through the Canadian travel industry—and if you’ve got a flight booked, now’s the time to start thinking about a plan B.
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