Airline begins gradual restart Tuesday; full service may take up to 10 days

TORONTO – NATIONAL NEWS – Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement to end a strike that disrupted travel across the country since Saturday morning.

The airline confirmed it will gradually restart operations Tuesday, though it cautions that full service may take seven to ten days as aircraft and crew are out of position. Some cancellations will continue until the schedule stabilizes.

“Only customers with confirmed bookings whose flights are shown as operating should go to the airport,” Air Canada said in a statement.

Union and Airline Reach Deal After Federal Intervention

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Air Canada Component announced the tentative deal early Tuesday following overnight talks with a federal mediator.

The union told members their right to vote on wages was preserved, adding that they are now expected to “fully co-operate with resumption of operations.”

The strike had been declared unlawful by the Canada Industrial Relations Board after the federal government invoked Section 107 of the Labour Code on Saturday to force both sides into binding arbitration.

What Passengers Can Expect

• First flights are scheduled for Tuesday evening.

• Delays and cancellations will continue during the next week as crews and planes are repositioned.

• Customers on cancelled flights will be offered:

  • A full refund

  • A future travel credit, or

  • Rebooking on another airline where possible.

National Impact

The strike disrupted thousands of travel plans at one of the busiest times of year for Canadian air travel. The tentative agreement brings relief for passengers, but the staggered return to normal operations means travellers should check flight status carefully before heading to airports.

For Northwestern Ontario residents connecting through Toronto, Winnipeg, or Ottawa, lingering disruptions could continue to affect regional routes into Thunder Bay and surrounding communities over the coming days.