By Peter Omopo
19th August 2025
Air Canada flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement with the airline, ending a strike that disrupted travel plans for nearly half a million passengers worldwide.
About 10,000 attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), walked off the job after midnight on Saturday, demanding higher wages and compensation for unpaid ground duties such as boarding. The walkout defied two separate back-to-work orders from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), forcing the airline to cancel thousands of flights.
Following renewed negotiations on Monday evening, CUPE announced on Tuesday that a deal had been struck and would be presented to its members for ratification.
“The strike has ended. We have a tentative agreement we will bring forward to you,” the union said in a statement, adding that it had secured “transformational change for our industry after a historic fight,” including an end to unpaid work.
Air Canada confirmed the breakthrough, saying the agreement was brokered with the help of mediator William Kaplan. The carrier said it would gradually restart operations beginning Tuesday evening but cautioned that a full return to service could take up to 10 days.
“Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more,” said airline president Michael Rousseau.
Neither side disclosed details of the proposed contract, but CUPE hailed it as a victory after months of tense negotiations.
The strike, which began Saturday, forced the airline to suspend much of its domestic and international network across 180 destinations. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the disruption as “disappointing,” while stressing that attendants must be “compensated equitably.”
Air Canada has urged passengers to check flight schedules before heading to airports, warning of continued delays as crews and aircraft are repositioned.
It was not immediately clear when union members would vote on the tentative agreement.
