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The Independent
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Air Canada strikes: Passenger rights as the shutdown continues
At least half-a-million passengers have been hit by Air Canada flight cancellations as hostilities between the carrier and cabin crew continue. British travellers are paying thousands of pounds extra to get home by alternative means. In response to a strike call by members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Canadian national airline started grounded flights on Thursday 14 August. By Saturday 16 August Air Canada had imposed ' a complete cessation of flying '. The government then ordered cabin crew to return to work and accept binding arbitration. CUPE's national secretary and treasurer, Candace Rennick, condemned 'the government's decision to intervene on behalf of an already wildly profitable employer, while a predominantly female workforce fights tooth and nail for a path out of poverty'. Initially Air Canada said flights would start to resume at 2pm on Sunday 17 August. That plan was abandoned because flight attendants refused to return to work. Air Canada says the union 'illegally directed its flight attendant members' to defy the order. The carrier now says it intends to resume flying on the evening of Monday 18 August. But the indications are that chaos will continue for days more. These are the key questions and answers. What is the dispute about? Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees working as cabin crew for the airline are embroiled in a long and bitter pay dispute. The union says it is fighting 'the abuse of unpaid work and poverty wages for flight attendants'. Cabin crew voted 99.7 per cent in favour of striking for better pay as well as an assurance of pay while on duty on the ground. CUPE says: 'Unpaid work is an unfair practice that pervades nearly the entire airline sector.' Air Canada says it has offered 'a 38 per cent total compensation increase over four years' and insists arbitration is the fairest solution to the dispute. But the union says: 'With respect to Air Canada's latest offer: it is below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage.' Cancellations affect passengers on both Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Rouge. But Air Canada Express, the regional carrier, is continuing operations as normal. How is it affecting passengers? Air Canada flies about 130,000 passengers per day in August – more than 5,000 of them to or from the UK. The airline's main British airport is London Heathrow, with additional flights to and from Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh. Key Canadian destinations include Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Currently Air Canada says all four flights from Toronto to London Heathrow due out on Monday evening will depart on time. The corresponding four departures from Heathrow back to Canada's largest city on Tuesday are also shown as operating. But it seems unlikely that they will go ahead. The Independent calculates that so far over half-a-million passengers have had their flights cancelled. In addition, many thousands of UK travellers are stranded in Canada due to earlier cancellations. What is Air Canada doing for passengers? The carrier says: 'Customers will be notified of alternative travel options that are identified for them. However, given other carriers are already very full due to the summer travel peak, securing such capacity will take time and, in many cases, will not be immediately possible.' Air Canada says it 'has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options to the extent possible'. But the evidence suggests that the airline is not finding solutions. One group of passengers – the Dearing and Robinson families from East Yorkshire – were booked to fly from Calgary to London Heathrow on Friday evening. After their flight was cancelled they were told: 'We're very sorry but after searching for flights on over 120 airlines for three days before and after your cancelled flights, we've been unable to rebook you.' As they told The Independent 's daily travel podcast, they were offered a refund. It took about five minutes for them to find alternative flights, though this was for a complicated journey via Seattle at a fare double what they originally paid. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? It all depends where you were due to start. From the UK or EU If your flight was due to start in the UK or EU, and is cancelled, Air Canada must find an alternative way to get you to your destination as close to the original timings as possible. The obvious transatlantic replacement would be on British Airways, Air Transat or WestJet between the UK and Canada, if seats are available. But it is more likely that travel from the UK to Canada will be via the US – which requires you to go through the onerous business of getting an Esta permit and clearing the US frontier for the hour or two you will be spending there between flights. While passengers are waiting to be flown where they need to be, they can expect to be provided with hotel accommodation and meals if necessary. From Canada – or elsewhere outside Europe, such as the US If your journey begins in Canada, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) apply. For cancellations that are the airline's responsibility, travellers would be entitled to compensation as well as hotels and meals as necessary. But unlike European air passengers' rights rules, the Canadian regulations excuse airlines a duty of care if the cause of disruption is outside its control. According to the APPR, 'a labour disruption within the carrier' is regarded as beyond an airline's control. So there is no entitlement to care. Air Canada is telling many travellers that they should cancel and take a refund – leaving them high and dry to find and pay for a replacement flight. From the US and elsewhere, passengers have no significant rights. I am on a package holiday – does that make a difference? Yes. Under the Package Travel Regulations, the tour operator (the firm that put together the holiday) is responsible for the actions of the airlines it uses. The rules stipulate: 'If any of the travel services are not performed in accordance with the package travel contract, the organiser must remedy the lack of conformity'. In the context of the Air Canada dispute, that would mean finding alternative flights and paying for hotels while travellers are waiting. The only get-outs are if finding alternative flights is impossible or 'entails disproportionate costs'. Neither appears to cover this case, unless only business-class seats costing many thousands of pounds were available. Could travel insurance help? For additional expenses incurred as a result of the strike that cannot be covered by anyone else, you can claim on travel insurance. But you would be expected to approach the airline first before claiming for out-of-pocket costs. Will I get compensation? Possibly for a flight leaving from a UK airport. Under British air passengers' rights rules, there is no consensus that industrial action entitles travellers whose flights are cancelled to claim cash compensation. All you can do is try. Canada's APPR holds that strikes are outside Air Canada's control and no compensation is payable. How long will this go on? It is difficult to say. Air Canada is losing an estimated C$50m (£27m) per day in revenue while the strike continues. It is also sustaining substantial reputational damage. The airline hopes cabin crew will return to work over the next few days. Even if that happens – and the fury among union members suggests it may not – it will be days before the operation is back on track.
Toronto Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Porter Airlines cabin crew files application to certify union: CUPE
Published Jul 14, 2025 • < 1 minute read A Porter Airlines Q400 sits on the tarmac at Billy Bishop Toronto Island Airport after it made the company's inaugural flight from Moncton Friday afternoon. OTTAWA — The Canadian Union of Public Employees says cabin crew at Porter Airlines have filed a union certification application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The union would represent about 1,200 cabin crew at the airline. CUPE national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick says Porter is an amazing Canadian success story and the cabin crew deserve to share in that success. CUPE already represents 18,500 cabin crew at other airlines across the country including Air Canada and WestJet. Porter started flying in 2006 based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the city's waterfront. It has grown to offer service across North America. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Columnists NFL World Golf Editorial Cartoons
Global News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Porter Airlines cabin crew files application to certify union: CUPE
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Canadian Union of Public Employees says cabin crew at Porter Airlines have filed a union certification application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The union would represent about 1,200 cabin crew at the airline. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. Sign up for weekly money newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy CUPE national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick says Porter is an amazing Canadian success story and the cabin crew deserve to share in that success. CUPE already represents 18,500 cabin crew at other airlines across the country including Air Canada and WestJet. Porter started flying in 2006 based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the city's waterfront. It has grown to offer service across North America.
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Porter Airlines cabin crew files application to certify union: CUPE
A Porter flight lands at the airport Wednesday July 3, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA — The Canadian Union of Public Employees says cabin crew at Porter Airlines have filed a union certification application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The union would represent about 1,200 cabin crew at the airline. CUPE national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick says Porter is an amazing Canadian success story and the cabin crew deserve to share in that success. CUPE already represents 18,500 cabin crew at other airlines across the country including Air Canada and WestJet. Porter started flying in 2006 based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the city's waterfront. It has grown to offer service across North America. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
14-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Porter Airlines cabin crew files application to certify union: CUPE
OTTAWA - The Canadian Union of Public Employees says cabin crew at Porter Airlines have filed a union certification application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The union would represent about 1,200 cabin crew at the airline. CUPE national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick says Porter is an amazing Canadian success story and the cabin crew deserve to share in that success. CUPE already represents 18,500 cabin crew at other airlines across the country including Air Canada and WestJet. Porter started flying in 2006 based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the city's waterfront. It has grown to offer service across North America. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2025.
