Air Canada to resume flights after government action forces staff back to work

Air Canada has confirmed that flights will resume today following a government intervention, ensuring that striking flight attendants return to work. 

On August 17, 2025, the airline said that after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) acted on a directive from Patty Hajdu, the Federal Minister of Jobs and Families, referring the airline’s contract negotiations with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to final binding interest arbitration.   

Under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, and the CIRB’s order, the strike at Air Canada that resulted in the suspension of more than 700 flights is effectively over. 

“The CIRB has directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to resume their duties by 14:00 EDT on August 17, 2025,” said a spokesperson for Air Canada.  

CUPE, which represents Air Canada flight attendants, reacted angrily to news that Section 107 had been invoked, and the matter had been referred to forced arbitration after less than 12 hours.

Please see my statement on the latest development between CUPE Flight Attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada://Voici ma déclaration sur les derniers développements entre les agents de bord du SCFP d’Air Canada et Air Canada : pic.twitter.com/vYTuFThYgg— Patty Hajdu (@PattyHajdu) August 16, 2025 “This is not over,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “We will continue to fight on the picket lines, on the streets, at the bargaining table, in the courts, and in Parliament, until the injustice of unpaid work is done for good. Workers will win – despite the best effort of the Liberal government and their corporate friends.” 

The union said that Air Canada “knew they could avoid ending the abuse of unpaid work and poverty wages for flight attendants as long as they stonewalled negotiations”. 

“This is absolutely shameful and a blatant betrayal,” said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “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, is not just unjust, it’s a disgraceful misuse of power that reeks of systemic bias and corporate favoritism.” 

On August 16, 2025, Air Canada announced that all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights would remain suspended pending the outcome of the CIRB process. 

Patty Hajdu said the government became involved after it became clear that Air Canada and CUPE flight attendants were at an “impasse” and “unable to resolve their dispute”. 

“This nationwide labour disruption is impeding the movement of passengers and critical cargo. In a year in which Canadian families and businesses have already experienced too much disruption and uncertainty, this is not the time to add additional challenges and disruptions to their lives and our economy,” said Hajdu in a statement.  

Strikes by Air Canada flight attendants began on August 16, 2025, over the airline refusing to increase flight attendant wages to match industry standards, inflation, or even federal minimum wage, according to CUPE.  

The union also noted that “flight attendants are only paid when the plane is moving, and work as many as 35 unpaid hours a week performing vital duties”.   

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