Air Canada faces turbulence as flight attendants go on strike: What to know
Flights across the Great White North were canceled as 10,000 attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) chose not to work, halting some operations for the country's largest airline.
Attendants started walking off the job around 1 a.m. EDT on Saturday, according to The Associated Press.
Passengers notified of flight cancellations
Air Canada canceled approximately 500 flights on Friday. Travelers were notified through email or text about the status of their trip, and the company said they would continue to provide routine updates.
At least 128 domestic flights and 194 international flights were cancelled, AP reported. On Thursday, 18 domestic flights and four international flights were cancelled, per the outlet.
Travelers rebooked on alternate airlines
Air Canada has offered to rebook passengers on available airlines when possible.
However, the company noted many options are out of reach 'due to the summer travel peak.' Passengers with cancelled flights are eligible for a full refund, according to Air Canada's website.
'We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,' Michael Rousseau, president and chief executive of Air Canada, said in a statement on the website. However, the disappointing conduct of CUPE's negotiators and the union's stated intention to launch a strike puts us in a position where our only responsible course of action is to provide certainty by implementing an orderly suspension of Air Canada's and Air Canada Rouge's operations through a lockout
'As we have seen elsewhere in our industry with other labour disruptions, unplanned or uncontrolled shutdowns, such as we are now at risk of through a strike, can create chaos for travellers that is far, far worse,' he added.
Air Canada suggests third-party, binding arbitration with union
Air Canada has suggested a third party engage in talks with the labor union as hope for a contract dampens. The company criticized CUPE for not accepting the offered 38 percent pay increase for workers over a four-year period.
'In an additional attempt to prevent travel disruption, Air Canada had also offered to CUPE to enter third-party, binding arbitration to settle the outstanding points of discussion,' a statement on the website reads.
Company officials said CUPE responded by issuing a notice of Saturday's strike.
'Given this, while we remain available for discussions with CUPE, we have requested government-directed arbitration as we now view it as the only certain avenue to bring closure to bargaining and mitigate the impact on travellers, business and the Canadian economy,' the Air Canada president said of the matter.
CUPE argued that the proposed pay raise did not account for inflation, stating on Friday that the 'the mere prospect of ministerial intervention has had a chilling effect on Air Canada's obligation to bargain in good faith.'
'Air Canada's request for intervention should be denied,' the group added.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines are expected to continue operations as normal, carrying 20 percent of the airline's daily customers.
Both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry approximately 130,000 customers a day, disrupting travel for 25,000 Canadians who use the airline to fly home from abroad each day.
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