Air Canada has reached an agreement with its 10,000 flight attendant union members to end a strike that disrupted travel plans for hundreds of thousands of passengers. The deal will allow flights to gradually resume, starting at 4 p.m. ET.
The strike began over the weekend after the union refused to enter into government-directed arbitration, which would have settled contract terms. However, the airline and union reached a tentative agreement early Tuesday morning, ensuring flight attendants will receive pay for work performed while planes are on the ground.
According to Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, restarting operations is a complex process that may take seven to 10 days. Some flights will be canceled until the schedule is stabilized, and passengers can request full refunds if their flights are impacted.
The agreement marks an end to a strike that affected about 130,000 travelers daily at its peak, with Air Canada calling off over 2,500 domestic and international flights since last Thursday. Toronto’s Pearson International Airport has deployed additional staff to support passengers and startup operations.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed relief over the deal, stating it will ensure fair compensation for flight attendants while ending disruption for hundreds of thousands of Canadian families, workers, and visitors. Passengers can request full refunds on Air Canada’s website or mobile app if their flights are affected.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/air-canada-union-strike-deal-flight-attendants-0b1f00f99b813128cd7694006aea8ff1