The Canadian government intervened on Saturday to halt a strike by Air Canada cabin crew that grounded hundreds of flights and disrupted summer travel for more than 130,000 daily passengers.
Gatekeepers News reports that country’s largest airline, which serves 180 destinations worldwide, suspended operations after about 10,000 flight attendants launched industrial action over a wage dispute shortly after midnight.
Within hours, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu invoked a legal measure requiring both the airline and the union to enter binding arbitration, effectively ending the strike.
Despite the intervention, officials warned it could take up to 10 days before the airline fully restores regular services.
Air Canada had earlier advised passengers not to head to the airport if booked on its mainline services or its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. Flights operated under Air Canada Express, which are managed by third-party carriers, were not affected.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the striking workers, maintained that its members would remain off the job until a formal government order was issued.
The union criticicised the federal intervention, arguing it undermined collective bargaining and allowed the airline to avoid addressing key issues.
The dispute centres on demands for wage increases and compensation for tasks such as ground duties during boarding, which attendants say go unpaid.
Air Canada said its latest contract proposal would see senior flight attendants earn an average of CAN$87,000 ($65,000) annually by 2027.
The union has dismissed the offer as falling below inflation and industry standards, while also rejecting arbitration requests from both the airline and the federal government.
