Air Canada halted all operations on Saturday morning when over 10,000 flight attendants went on strike due to disputes over pay and scheduling, which led to intervention by the Canadian government.
Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu has instructed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to enforce binding arbitration, prolonging the current contract until a new one is finalized.
“This decision will help ensure that hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are not affected by the cancellations of flights,” Hajdu stated on Saturday afternoon.
The strike has already upended travel plans worldwide at the height of the summer season.
The airline, which is Canada’s largest and serves as the country’s flag carrier, predicts that with around 700 daily flights halted, about 130,000 customers will be affected each day the strike continues.
Hajdu cautioned that the strike could seriously affect the Canadian economy, emphasizing that Air Canada is responsible for transporting over 40% of the nation’s essential goods, such as pharmaceuticals and organ tissue.
The duration of the strike remains uncertain along with the timeline for reaching an agreement. Air Canada’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr warned that post-agreement, it might take up to a week to fully resume operations.
Air Canada is urging 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 operated by Air Canada Express partners Jazz and PAL airlines are not impacted.
Passengers whose flights are canceled will be notified. Here’s what travelers need to know:
Request a refund or credit
Customers who booked an Air Canada flight on or before Aug. 15 for travel on Saturday or Sunday can cancel for a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket, regardless of fare type, through the company’s website or mobile app.
Travelers may also opt for a travel credit to use toward a future Air Canada booking.
For other travel dates, refundable ticket holders can request a full refund with no fees. Nonrefundable fares can be converted into credit for future travel.
Air Canada can rebook your flight
If you forgo a refund, Air Canada said it will attempt to rebook you, including with other carriers.
But the airline — which serves more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and on six continents — warned that seats are extremely limited during the peak summer season.
“Available capacity on our airline and on other carriers is limited due to the summer travel peak, meaning the possibility of rebooking you within an acceptable timeframe is low,” Air Canada said in a news release on Saturday.
Passengers can also rebook their flights for dates between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12 at no additional cost.
Impact on other airlines
Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance network, which includes 26 member airlines such as United and Lufthansa. This means travelers on partner airlines operating Air Canada flights could be affected.
United Airlines said in a statement that it is “working with customers to get them to their destinations and have issued a travel waiver to make sure they have the flexibility to manage their travel plans.”
Airport and agency response
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said that it is “fully prepared to support travelers and help minimize disruptions.”
“Airport staff will be on-site to assist passengers, and we are working closely with Air Canada and our terminal partners to ensure necessary resources are in place,” the agency said in a statement ahead of the strike.
The Port Authority advised that travelers check their flight status directly with Air Canada before heading to the airport and allow extra time for travel.
The U.S. Department of Transportation did not issue an official statement on Air Canada’s suspended operations and did not immediately return a request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed.
