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Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike: Is Your Flight Affected and How to Get a Refund

Published: August 13, 2025

Strike Notice and Lockout by Air Canada

The Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 flight attendants, gave notice of a potential strike this Saturday. In response, Air Canada issued a lockout notice to “mitigate the strike’s customer impact” and allow for an orderly suspension of operations over the next 72 hours. The strike affects Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, while regional Air Canada Express flights are not impacted.

Why the Strike Happened

CUPE has raised concerns regarding wages and unpaid work, stating that Air Canada has not responded constructively to proposals. CUPE president Wesley Lesosky emphasized that the union is focused on fairness and industry standards.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau responded, stating the airline regrets any disruption to customers but emphasized that the union’s threat of a strike left the airline no choice but to implement a controlled lockout.

Flight Cancellations and How to Check

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. According to Air Canada:

• Flights will start being cancelled on August 14.
• More cancellations on August 15.
• Complete cessation of flying by August 16.

Refunds and Flight Changes

Air Canada assures that customers affected by cancellations will be notified and can obtain a full refund. Those with flights between August 15–18 can also change their flights for free to dates between August 21 and September 12.

For non-refundable fares, passengers can cancel and use the ticket value for future bookings. The airline will attempt to rebook passengers on the earliest available flights with over 120 domestic and international carriers.

Historical Context of Air Canada Flight Attendant Strikes

Air Canada flight attendants have gone on strike in the past:

• 1985: Over 3,000 attendants struck over wage disputes, lasting six weeks.
• 1997: Air Ontario attendants struck for 11 weeks over working conditions and pay.

These strikes led to improvements in wages, working hours, and contract terms for flight attendants.

Key Takeaways for Travellers

• Check your flight status before going to the airport.
• Cancelled flights are eligible for full refunds.
• Flights between Aug 15–18 can be rescheduled without fees.
• Regional Air Canada Express flights are not affected.

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