Air Canada has reached a tentative contract agreement with its 10,000-plus flight attendants, ending a disruptive four-day strike that grounded hundreds of flights and sidelined up to 80% of the airline’s cargo capacity. The carrier confirmed that flight and cargo services will restart Tuesday evening, though a full return to normal operations could take more than a week.
“Cargo operations will slowly return to normal as passenger flights return,” an Air Canada spokesperson said. “During the disruption, Air Canada Cargo operated a freighter relief schedule, and this will now be transitioned back to our regular freighter operations as the passenger schedule ramps up.”
Throughout the strike, Air Canada relied on four active Boeing 767 freighters to carry between 20–25% of typical cargo volumes, prioritizing essential trade lanes to Europe and the Americas. With both aircraft and crews displaced, however, the carrier cautioned that some cancellations will continue in the coming days until schedules are stabilized.
Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s president and CEO, acknowledged the disruption: “The suspension of our service is extremely difficult for our customers. Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. We ask for patience and understanding as we restore our full schedule.”
The terms of the tentative contract, negotiated under government mediation, have not been disclosed. Ratification by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, remains pending. Air Canada emphasized that during this process, further strikes or lockouts are not permitted, giving customers confidence to plan shipments and travel.
The dispute, driven by pay and scheduling concerns, centered on CUPE’s long-standing demand to end “unpaid work,” particularly pre-flight and post-landing duties not currently included in compensation. CUPE said Tuesday: “Unpaid work is over. We have reclaimed our voice and our power.”
Air Canada had previously offered a package representing a 38% increase in overall compensation, including a 17.2% wage rise over four years. CUPE argued that its members still lagged behind peers at other airlines. The issue of ground duty pay echoes recent wins by flight attendant unions in the U.S., where American Airlines and Alaska Airlines were compelled to pay cabin crew during boarding.
The strike defied two federal back-to-work orders over the weekend, with the Canada Industrial Relations Board deeming the work stoppage unlawful. Ultimately, government pressure and mediation helped secure the tentative agreement.
For shippers, the end of the strike brings relief but not immediate resolution. With 75–80% of volumes delayed and aircraft out of position, forwarders and exporters may face another week of disruption before full bellyhold capacity is restored.
