Air Canada flight attendants have issued a 72-hour strike notice, potentially leading to a complete work stoppage on August 16, 2025. In response, the airline has prepared a 72-hour lockout notice, indicating plans to suspend flights if the strike occurs. This situation marks the first significant interruption of Air Canada operations due to labour disputes since the pilots’ strike in 1998.
A potential shutdown could drastically affect passenger travel during the busy summer season. Air Canada and its subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, transport approximately 130,000 passengers daily, with around 25,000 of these individuals returning to Canada from international destinations. Under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Rights, airlines are obligated to assist passengers in the event of flight cancellations, presenting a challenge for Air Canada in securing alternative arrangements during a peak travel period.
Negotiations between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have been ongoing since March, but the airline recently declared an “impasse” over critical issues, including wages and working conditions. CUPE has highlighted wage disparities, noting that many junior flight attendants earn salaries significantly below the Canadian minimum wage.
An analysis of collective agreement wage rates indicates that wages for Air Canada flight attendants would require an increase of approximately 32 to 34 percent to match the purchasing power of 2014 wages adjusted for inflation by 2025. CUPE asserts that flight attendants are only compensated when the aircraft’s brakes are released for departure until they are reapplied upon arrival, resulting in an estimated 35 hours of unpaid work each month.
Efforts to address the issue of unpaid duties have been ongoing, culminating in the introduction of private member’s Bill C-415 by NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo in October 2024. This bill sought to amend the Canada Labour Code to ensure flight attendants are compensated for all pre-flight and post-flight duties, as well as mandatory training. Although the bill received its First Reading in Parliament, it did not advance and expired at the end of the parliamentary session in January 2025. Nonetheless, there remains strong support for such legislation, as demonstrated by a recent letter from the Leader of the Opposition to the Minister of Labour.
A February 2025 article in The Conversation Canada noted organized labour’s efforts to secure pay for flight attendants, emphasizing the need for better working conditions and equitable pay structures that reflect all hours worked. Notably, several airlines have already implemented pay structures that exceed traditional “flight pay.” Delta Airlines initiated this practice in 2022, followed by American Airlines in 2024. United Airlines is currently awaiting ratification of a similar provision in a proposed contract. In Canada, Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation have also adopted compensation for work performed during boarding.
The stakes are high for both CUPE and Air Canada as they navigate these negotiations. CUPE has publicly articulated its goals for members, focusing on wage increases essential for a living wage, particularly for junior flight attendants, and compensation for unpaid work. These objectives were reinforced by a 99.7 percent vote in favor of a strike if negotiations falter.
Air Canada’s negotiation strategy closely resembles its approach during discussions with pilots in 2024, where government intervention played a role in reaching an agreement. With the looming strike deadline, it remains to be seen whether the airline will adopt a similar strategy this time. Historical context suggests that negotiations between Air Canada and its flight attendants have often been mired in political complexities, raising the stakes for both sides.
If a strike occurs, Air Canada could face financial losses estimated between $50 million and $60 million daily, likely prompting swift negotiations to avert such disruptions. John Gradek, an expert in aviation management, has no affiliations with any organization that would benefit from this article.
