Air Canada to gradually resume flights after reaching settlement with union

After several days of canceled flights disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers, the Air Canada flight attendant strike has come to an end. The airline, Canada’s largest, has announced that it will gradually resume its operations following a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

The strike saw 10,000 flight attendants refusing to return to work despite a government order, citing concerns over wages and unpaid labor. The union representing the flight attendants argued that Air Canada’s wages were below market value, inflation, and federal minimum wage standards. They also demanded to be paid for groundwork, which includes tasks performed before takeoff and after landing.

Air Canada participated in mediation discussions with the union, with the condition that all 10,000 flight attendants return to work immediately to allow the airline to resume its grounded operations. The carrier had been forced to cancel hundreds of flights, impacting nearly 500,000 customers in Canada and the U.S.

Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s president and CEO, expressed regret over the disruption caused by the labor dispute and assured customers that the priority was to get operations back to normal as quickly as possible. The airline cautioned that the process of full restoration could take up to a week or longer, with the first flights scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Customers have been advised that while some flights may be canceled in the coming days as the schedule is stabilized, full regular service could be restored within seven to ten days. Air Canada’s partner, United Airlines, reported minimal impact on its customers as a result of the strike.

As the airline works towards resuming normal operations, passengers can expect some disruptions in the coming days, but efforts are being made to minimize the impact and get travelers moving again as soon as possible.