Sky high tensions: Maritime passengers pay close attention to Air Canada contract talks
At Halifax Stanfield International Airport, it was business as usual on Wednesday, but that is going to change.
With the nation's largest air carrier on the verge of an operations shutdown, passengers flying out Wednesday said they are relieved.
'A bit lucky in a way that I'm getting home before the strike,' says Yordan Karaivanov.
'Very lucky that we're getting out before midnight tonight because I'm back to work tomorrow, I don't know how we would've got home otherwise,' adds Jessica MacDonald.
Shortly after CUPE issued their 72-hour strike notice early Wednesday morning, Air Canada announced plans to lock out its 10,000 flight attendants, meaning all planes could be grounded Saturday morning.
'I'm expecting that the operation will pretty much come to a grinding halt on Saturday and we'll maintain our position on the picket line at Halifax International Airport,' says CUPE strike captain Lisa Vivian MacDonald.
Air Canada
An Air Canada plane is pictured at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Aug. 13, 2025. (CTV Atlantic / Jonathan MacInnis)
The service director says Halifax will be the only airport in the region with an active picket line.
'From what I understand, we will be able to picket outside the departures area,' said MacDonald.
Not all planes under the company banner will be affected – Air Canada and Rouge will be on the tarmac while Jazz and PAL flights will continue to operate.
'Jazz will continue to operate Air Canada Express flights as planned in the event of any disruption at Air Canada,' a spokesperson told CTV News.
That's bitter sweet news for some smaller Maritime airports. Lori Carle, marketing manager for the Saint John Airport, says there is one daily flight to Montreal and two daily flights to Toronto, the latter routes will not be running if the strike happens.
'We have Jazz Aviation, Air Canada express flights with Jazz that operate the Montreal flights and Rouge flights are coming in for Toronto, so it will be the Toronto flights that will be impacted if there were a full-on strike,' says Carle.
Current destinations served by Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge from Halifax include:
Halifax – London (Heathrow)
Halifax – Montreal
Halifax – Vancouver
Halifax – Toronto
Air Canada Express (operated primarily by PAL):
Halifax - St John's, NL
Halifax – Ottawa
Halifax - Deer Lake
Halifax – Gander
Halifax – Boston
Halifax – Newark
Halifax - Goose Bay
That full-on strike will severely affect the economy, according to the urban chambers of commerce of New Brunswick.
'The consequences of a prolonged disruption would be severe and far-reaching, affecting small businesses, health care access, academic institutions, and families across our province,' they said a news release.
Wages and unpaid work are sticking points. The company has asked CUPE to agree to binding arbitration. The union says they would prefer to come up with a new deal at the bargaining table.
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