Travellers hit as Air Canada shuts down on looming flight attendant strike
The company, which operates in some 65 countries with a fleet of 259 aircraft, announced the shock shutdown this week, notifying travellers it would progressively shutter flights from Thursday, with a full shutdown of all services expected by Saturday.
'Air Canada has been forced into this decision to lock out its flight attendants and regrets the impact the suspension of operations will have on customers as a result of the union's issuance of a strike notice during such a heavy travel period,' the company said in a statement.
'However, as events at other airlines in recent years have shown, sudden or unmanaged work stoppages produce a significantly worse disruption to travel than a planned suspension of flying.
'A controlled wind down allows Air Canada to advise customers in advance, reduces the chance of customers being stranded, provides the airline and customers the time and opportunity to make alternative travel arrangements and gives customers more certainty.'
Air Canada operates routes from Brisbane and Sydney to Vancouver and back.
The company said impacted customers could alter their flights free of charge.
'If you are booked to travel between August 15 and August 18 and would like to make alternate travel arrangements, you can change your flight for free if you purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than August 13, 2025,' the statement continued.
'If you're scheduled to travel during this period, you can retrieve your booking to change to another Air Canada flight, for free, to another date between August 21 and September 12, 2025.
'If you purchased a non-refundable fare, you may cancel your itinerary and receive the unused portion of your ticket in your AC wallet or as a future travel credit to use on your next Air Canada booking.
'If you purchased your ticket with Air Canada Vacations, please reach out to them directly.
'If you purchased an Aeroplan flight reward, you can cancel without a fee on our website.
'If you opt to keep your current booking and your flight is cancelled due to a labour disruption, Air Canada will attempt to rebook you on another flight, including those operated by other airlines.
'However, available capacity on our airline and on other carriers is limited due to the summer travel peak, meaning the possibility of rebooking you within an acceptable timeframe is low.
'If your travel is disrupted, you can always choose a refund.'
A union strike has triggered the shutdown, with some 10,000 flight attendants set to walk out for better pay.
'We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,' Air Canada president and chief executive Michael Rousseau said.
'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.'
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