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Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Air Canada cabin staff go on strike, grounding hundreds of flights
Air Canada's unionised flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday morning after pay talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that is expected to disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers. The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the 72-hour stoppage in a social media post just before 0100 ET (0500 GMT) in the first strike by flight attendants since 1985. The airline said on Saturday it had suspended all flights for Air Canada and its budget arm Air Canada Rouge, after cabin crew represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike. "About 130,000 customers will be impacted each day that the strike continues," Air Canada said in a statement. "Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on an airline other than Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge," the airline said. Flights for regional operators Air Canada Jazz and PAL Airlines would continue to operate. Attendants are currently paid when the plane is moving and the union is seeking to also be compensated for time spent on the ground between flights and helping passengers board. Montreal-based Air Canada, which is expected to respond quickly by locking out the workers, had said it anticipated canceling 623 flights by the end of Friday during the busy summer travel season. It expected around 100,000 people would be affected on Friday alone. Flight attendants will on Saturday picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. Passenger Freddy Ramos, 24, said on Friday at Canada's largest airport in Toronto that his earlier flight was canceled due to the labor dispute and that he had been rebooked by Air Canada to a different destination. "Probably 10 minutes prior to boarding, our gate got changed and then it was canceled and then it was delayed and then it was canceled again," he said. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge normally carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the busiest foreign carrier servicing the U.S. by number of scheduled flights. While the dispute has generated support from passengers for the flight attendants on social media, Canadian businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the United States urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, which would end the strike. Air Canada has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal government to order both sides into binding arbitration although CUPE, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move. The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides, which are not bargaining, to return to the table. The union has said Air Canada offered to compensate flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50% of their hourly rate. The carrier had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. In a note to clients on Friday, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to "extend an olive branch to end the impasse," adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labor are outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter.
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Cabin crew strike grounds Air Canada
MONTREAL - Air Canada's unionised flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday morning after pay talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that is expected to disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers. The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the 72-hour stoppage in a social media post just after midnight local time in the first strike by flight attendants since 1985. The airline said on Saturday it had suspended all flights for Air Canada and its budget arm Air Canada Rouge, after cabin crew represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) walked out. 'About 130,000 customers will be impacted each day that the strike continues,' Air Canada said in a statement. 'Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket on an airline other than Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge.' Flights for regional operators Air Canada Jazz and PAL Airlines would continue to operate. Attendants are currently paid when the plane is moving but the union is seeking to also have them compensated for time spent on the ground between flights and helping passengers board. Montreal-based Air Canada, which is expected to respond quickly by locking out the workers, had said it anticipated cancelling 623 flights by the end of Friday during the busy summer travel season. It expected around 100,000 people would be affected on the first day alone. Flight attendants on Saturday were preparing to picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. At Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's largest, passenger Freddy Ramos, 24, said his earlier flight was cancelled due to the labour dispute and that he had been rebooked by Air Canada to a different destination. 'Probably 10 minutes prior to boarding, our gate got changed and then it was cancelled and then it was delayed and then it was cancelled again,' he said. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge normally carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the busiest foreign carrier servicing the United States by number of scheduled flights. While the dispute has generated support from passengers for the flight attendants on social media, Canadian businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the United States urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, which would end the strike. Air Canada has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal government to order both sides into binding arbitration although CUPE, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move. The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides, which are not bargaining, to return to the table. The union has said Air Canada offered to compensate flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid, but only at 50% of their hourly rate. The carrier had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. In a note to clients on Friday, analysts at the financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to 'extend an olive branch to end the impasse', adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labor are outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter. 'We think it would be best for AC to achieve labour peace,' the note said. 'Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory.'
RTHK
a day ago
- Business
- RTHK
Air Canada strike begins as contract talks break down
Air Canada strike begins as contract talks break down An Air Canada ground staff member addresses the issue of flight disruption with a passenger at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Photo: Reuters Air Canada's unionized flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday after contract talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that could disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers. The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the action in a social media post at around 0100 ET, 1pm Hong Kong time, in the first strike by cabin crew since 1985. Air Canada, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, said it had "suspended all operations" in response to the work stoppage. "Air Canada is strongly advising affected customers not to go to the airport," it said, adding that it "deeply regrets the effect the strike is having on customers." Attendants are currently paid when the plane is moving and the union is seeking to also be compensated for time on the ground between flights and helping passengers board. Montreal-based Air Canada, which is expected to respond quickly by locking out the workers, has said it anticipated cancelling 500 flights by the end of Friday during the busy summer travel season. It expected around 100,000 people to be affected on Friday alone. Flight attendants are likely on Saturday to picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. Passenger Freddy Ramos, 24, said on Friday at Canada's largest airport in Toronto that his earlier flight was cancelled due to the labor dispute and he had been rebooked by Air Canada to a different destination. "Probably 10 minutes prior to boarding, our gate got changed and then it was cancelled and then it was delayed and then it was cancelled again," he said. Air Canada and its low-cost affiliate Air Canada Rouge normally carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the United States. While the dispute has generated support from passengers on social media for the flight attendants, Canadian businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the United States urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, which would end the strike. Air Canada has asked the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to order both sides into binding arbitration although the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move. The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides, which are not bargaining, to return to the table. The union has said Air Canada offered to begin compensating flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50 percent of their hourly rate. The carrier had offered a 38 percent increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25 percent raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. In a note to clients on Friday, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to "extend an olive branch to end the impasse," adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labour are outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter. "We think it would be best for AC to achieve labor peace," the note said. "Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory." (Reuters)
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Air Canada cabin staff go on strike, grounding hundreds of flights
Air Canada's unionized flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday morning after contract talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that could disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers. The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the action in a social media post at around 1:00 a.m. in the first strike by cabin crew since 1985. Attendants are currently paid when the plane is moving and the union was seeking to also be compensated for time on the ground between flights and helping passengers board. 5 Air Canada union activists interrupt a press conference by airline executives on Aug. 14, 2025. REUTERS Montreal-based Air Canada, which is expected to respond quickly by locking out the workers, has said it anticipated canceling 500 flights by the end of Friday during the busy summer travel season. It expected around 100,000 people to be affected on Friday alone. Flight attendants are likely on Saturday to picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. Passenger Freddy Ramos, 24, said on Friday at Canada's largest airport in Toronto that his earlier flight was canceled due to the labor dispute and he had been rebooked by Air Canada to a different destination. 'Probably 10 minutes prior to boarding, our gate got changed and then it was canceled and then it was delayed and then it was canceled again,' he said. 5 Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada on Aug. 14, 2025. Getty Images 5 Air Canada flight attendants walk through the terminal of Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec on Aug. 15, 2025. AP Air Canada and its low-cost affiliate Air Canada Rouge normally carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the US. While the dispute has generated support from passengers on social media for the flight attendants, Canadian businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the United States urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, which would end the strike. Air Canada has asked the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to order both sides into binding arbitration although the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move. The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides, which are not bargaining, to return to the table. The union has said Air Canada offered to begin compensating flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50% of their hourly rate. 5 Flight attendants are likely on Saturday to picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. AP 5 A passenger looks at the canceled and delayed Air Canada flights on a departure board at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. AP The carrier had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. In a note to clients on Friday, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to 'extend an olive branch to end the impasse,' adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labor are outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter. 'We think it would be best for AC to achieve labor peace,' the note said. 'Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory.'
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Air Canada cabin staff go on strike, grounding hundreds of flights
[MONTREAL] Air Canada's unionised flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday (Aug 16) morning after contract talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that could disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers. The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the action in a social media post at around 0100 ET in the first strike by cabin crew since 1985. Attendants are currently paid when the plane is moving and the union was seeking to also be compensated for time on the ground between flights and helping passengers board. Montreal-based Air Canada, which is expected to respond quickly by locking out the workers, has said it anticipated cancelling 500 flights by the end of Friday during the busy summer travel season. It expected around 100,000 people to be affected on Friday alone. Flight attendants are likely on Saturday to picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. Passenger Freddy Ramos, 24, said on Friday at Canada's largest airport in Toronto that his earlier flight was cancelled due to the labour dispute and he had been rebooked by Air Canada to a different destination. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Probably 10 minutes prior to boarding, our gate got changed and then it was cancelled and then it was delayed and then it was cancelled again,' he said. Air Canada and its low-cost affiliate Air Canada Rouge normally carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the US. While the dispute has generated support from passengers on social media for the flight attendants, Canadian businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the United States urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, which would end the strike. Air Canada has asked the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to order both sides into binding arbitration although the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move. The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides, which are not bargaining, to return to the table. The union has said Air Canada offered to begin compensating flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50 per cent of their hourly rate. The carrier had offered a 38 per cent increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25 per cent raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. In a note to clients on Friday, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to 'extend an olive branch to end the impasse', adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labour are outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter. 'We think it would be best for AC to achieve labour peace,' the note said. 'Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory.' REUTERS
