Air Canada Locks Out Flight Attendants Amid CUPE Strike

Air Canada announced on August 16, 2025, that a lockout of 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), had commenced in response to CUPE's strike action. The lockout started at 1:30 am Eastern Time following CUPE's strike initiation at 0:58 am Eastern Time.

In reaction to CUPE's 72-hour strike notice, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge issued a statutory 72-hour lockout notice on August 13th. The airlines have been gradually reducing their schedules of approximately 700 daily flights to manage the labor disruption caused by CUPE's strike notice. Around 130,000 customers will be affected each day during the suspension. Air Canada is actively involved in negotiations to renew its collective agreement with CUPE.

Air Canada is advising impacted customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on another airline. The airline will inform customers with upcoming travel plans about additional flight cancellations and alternative options. Customers with soon-to-depart flights that are not yet canceled can rebook their travel or receive a credit for future use under a goodwill policy. For more details, customers can visit aircanada.com/action.

Air Canada expresses regret over the inconvenience caused to customers by the labor disruption. Air Canada, Canada's largest airline and flag carrier, is a founding member of Star Alliance, offering scheduled services to over 180 airports in Canada, the US, and internationally. The airline holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax and operates the Aeroplan travel loyalty program. Air Canada Vacations provides extensive travel options, while Air Canada Cargo offers air freight services globally. The company aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US.

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