Air Canada Takes Flight Again: Reaches Agreement with Flight Attendants and Begins Gradual Resumption of Operations
After a three-day total shutdown, Air Canada is gradually restarting its operations tonight after reaching an agreement with its flight attendant union.
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Air Canada has announced it will begin restoring its flight network starting this evening, August 19, after reaching an agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union representing its 10,000 flight attendants. The deal ends a service disruption that had grounded the entire fleet of the airline and its subsidiary Air Canada Rouge since August 16.
The agreement was reached through a mediation process overseen by renowned labor arbitrator William Kaplan. A key condition for initiating the talks was the union's commitment to an immediate return to work for its members, thus allowing the complex process of getting Canada's largest airline back in the air to begin.
The three-day shutdown, occurring during the peak summer travel season in the Northern Hemisphere, caused widespread disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers. In this regard, Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, regretted "the impact on them of this labour disruption" and asked for patience, acknowledging that a full operational recovery is a complex undertaking. "Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding over the coming days," Rousseau added, assuring that all company staff are working to get passengers traveling soon.
What Passengers Need to Know
When is Air Canada flying again? The first flights are scheduled for the evening of August 19, but operations will be limited.
Is my flight confirmed? The airline urges passengers to check their flight's status on aircanada.com or the mobile app before heading to the airport. Only those with confirmed, operating flights should go.
What if my flight was canceled? Air Canada is offering full refunds, credit for future travel, or the option to be rebooked on other airlines, although it warns that availability is limited.
How long until service is back to normal? The company estimates it will take between seven to ten days to stabilize its flight schedule, as aircraft and crews are out of their usual positions.
The details of the tentative agreement will remain confidential until the ratification process by the union members is completed. According to Air Canada, no strikes or lockouts are possible during this period, which allows customers to plan, book, and travel with certainty.
The labor dispute, whose specific causes were not officially detailed, is in line with a global industry trend where unions are seeking improved wages and working conditions following the recovery in travel demand.
Affected Flights in Latin America and the Caribbean
This Tuesday, Air Canada had 21 flights scheduled to 14 cities in Latin America and the Caribbean:
- Montreal - Punta Cana
- Montreal - Mexico City
- Montreal - São Paulo
- Montreal - Fort-de-France
- Montreal - Cancún
- Montreal - Bogotá
- Vancouver - Mexico City
- Vancouver - Cancún
- Toronto - St. Lucia
- Toronto - San José, Costa Rica
- Toronto - Punta Cana
- Toronto - Providenciales
- Toronto - Monterrey
- Toronto - Mexico City
- Toronto - Montego Bay
- Toronto - Kingston
- Toronto - São Paulo/Guarulhos - Buenos Aires
- Toronto - Cancún
- Toronto - Bridgetown
This represents up to 4,000 affected passengers (or 8,000 when considering the return flights to Canada).
Since Saturday the 16th, more than 70 Air Canada flights in Latin America and the Caribbean were canceled, affecting nearly 40,000 passengers.
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