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| Air Canada begins cancelling flights ahead of potential strike | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Earlier this week, Air Canada flight attendants picketed at Toronto Pearson Airport amid the labour dispute | |
| Canada's largest airline began suspending flights on Thursday after the union representing its flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice. | |
| Air Canada warned passengers without confirmed flights to not go to the airport, as suspensions will continue through that period. | |
| The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 Air Canada attendants, provided a strike notice on Wednesday after an impasse in contract talks. It said it has bargained in good faith but the company "refused to address" core issues, such as proposals on wages and unpaid work. | |
| The airline was extremely disappointed by the decision to strike, which could affect 130,000 customers a day, an official said. | |
| "This is a situation that was, and still is, avoidable," Arielle Meloul, Air Canada's executive vice president, said at a press conference on Thursday. | |
| Protesters forced the conference to ended abruptly after they entered the room holding signs reading "unpaid work won't fly" and "UnfAir Canada". | |
| Canadian Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged Air Canada and the union to return to the bargaining table to avoid a strike. | |
| She also said in a statement that Air Canada had asked her to refer the dispute to binding arbitration. | |
| The strike is set to begin at about 01:00 EST (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. | The strike is set to begin at about 01:00 EST (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. |
| The airline - which operates in 64 countries with a fleet of 259 aircraft - said the unplanned shutdown is "a major risk" to the company and its employees. The flight disruption could affect 130,000 daily customers, including 25,000 Canadians, amid the peak summer travel period. | The airline - which operates in 64 countries with a fleet of 259 aircraft - said the unplanned shutdown is "a major risk" to the company and its employees. The flight disruption could affect 130,000 daily customers, including 25,000 Canadians, amid the peak summer travel period. |
| "By optimally positioning aircraft and crews ahead of a possible stoppage, Air Canada will be able to provide required routine maintenance and more quickly restore regular service," the Montreal-based company said on Wednesday in response to the strike notice. | "By optimally positioning aircraft and crews ahead of a possible stoppage, Air Canada will be able to provide required routine maintenance and more quickly restore regular service," the Montreal-based company said on Wednesday in response to the strike notice. |
| The first Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights were cancelled beginning on Thursday, and additional flights are expected to be grounded on Friday. | |
| A "complete cessation of flying" will begin on Saturday, the airline said. Air Canada Express flights, which carry about 20% of Air Canada's daily customers, will not be affected. | A "complete cessation of flying" will begin on Saturday, the airline said. Air Canada Express flights, which carry about 20% of Air Canada's daily customers, will not be affected. |
| Customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and will receive a full refund, the airline said. The company has also made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options. | Customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and will receive a full refund, the airline said. The company has also made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options. |
| Customers will be notified of alternative options, but they could take time or might not be immediately possible. | Customers will be notified of alternative options, but they could take time or might not be immediately possible. |
| The Newfoundland and Labrador government released a joint statement with Hospitality NL on Wednesday afternoon, expressing concern over the expected impact of the strike on tourism in the province. | The Newfoundland and Labrador government released a joint statement with Hospitality NL on Wednesday afternoon, expressing concern over the expected impact of the strike on tourism in the province. |
| The statement said small business and tourism operators could not sustain any reductions in service and described the impact as "catastrophic" for the tourism industry during the summer season. | The statement said small business and tourism operators could not sustain any reductions in service and described the impact as "catastrophic" for the tourism industry during the summer season. |
| Alanna Wolf told the CBC she had already made alternative travel arrangements to get home to Toronto because of the strike. | Alanna Wolf told the CBC she had already made alternative travel arrangements to get home to Toronto because of the strike. |
| "[Our flight home] was supposed to be on Saturday, but yesterday we booked it for Thursday because we were afraid of the strike," she said. "And sure enough, a strike happens." | "[Our flight home] was supposed to be on Saturday, but yesterday we booked it for Thursday because we were afraid of the strike," she said. "And sure enough, a strike happens." |
| Air Canada will begin cancelling flights on Thursday after the union representing its flight attendants voted to strike. | |
| Toronto's Pearson International Airport - Canada's largest airport - said on Wednesday on X that it was closely monitoring the situation, and advised travellers to check directly with Air Canada for flight information. Other airports, including Vancouver International Airport, are also working on contingency plans. | Toronto's Pearson International Airport - Canada's largest airport - said on Wednesday on X that it was closely monitoring the situation, and advised travellers to check directly with Air Canada for flight information. Other airports, including Vancouver International Airport, are also working on contingency plans. |
| In contract negotiations, the carrier said it offered flight attendants a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year. | In contract negotiations, the carrier said it offered flight attendants a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year. |
| CUPE said the offer was "below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage" and would still leave flight attendants unpaid for some hours of work, including boarding and waiting at airports ahead of flights. | CUPE said the offer was "below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage" and would still leave flight attendants unpaid for some hours of work, including boarding and waiting at airports ahead of flights. |
| The union asserted that it had bargained in good faith with the airline for more than eight months but Air Canada instead sought government-directed arbitration. | The union asserted that it had bargained in good faith with the airline for more than eight months but Air Canada instead sought government-directed arbitration. |
| "When we stood strong together, Air Canada didn't come to the table in good faith," CUPE said in a statement to its members. "Instead, they called on the federal government to step in and take those rights away." | "When we stood strong together, Air Canada didn't come to the table in good faith," CUPE said in a statement to its members. "Instead, they called on the federal government to step in and take those rights away." |
| Earlier this month, 99.7% of employees represented by the union voted for a strike. | Earlier this month, 99.7% of employees represented by the union voted for a strike. |