Heads up, travellers! Air Canada is hitting pause on its flights from Saturday due to a looming flight attendant strike. This shake-up is set to affect around 130,000 passengers daily, with overseas flights already getting the chop. The airline’s taking measures to soften the blow, offering full refunds and working with other carriers to find alternative routes where possible.
The buzz started when the union, representing about 10,000 flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike notice. Air Canada quickly followed with a lockout notice. Mark Nasr, Air Canada’s COO, mentioned that while flights will be completely grounded by early Saturday, efforts are on to ensure everything’s back on track in a week.
Negotiations between Air Canada and the union have hit stalemate city. The union insists the sticking points are “poverty wages” and unpaid work when planes aren’t in the air, while Air Canada’s latest offer includes a 38% pay increase over four years. Both sides are open to talks, but if they fail, serious disruptions could lead to seeking government intervention.
Keep an eye on your flight status and stay informed on the latest updates if your travel plans might be affected!✈️