Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike: What Travellers Need to Know Now

The ongoing Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike has resulted in widespread flight disruptions for flyers. Passengers have also reported that Air Canada customer service lines are not operational with the calls being dropped and no call backs that advise to rebook days/weeks later on Air Canada flights that are not guaranteed to operate.

There are some important concerns related to Air Canada’s rules to protect passengers. The flight operations of Air Canada were halted due to a third-party issue as the flight attendants of the carrier have continued their strike since Monday, August 18. If you are the one whose flight is disrupted due to the strike issue, then you must read the article below to gain a lot of useful information and come out of this situation.

It is considered something the airline cannot control, according to a specific section of the regulations, if the staff of an airline goes on strike. This particular rule outlines the responsibilities of Air Canada.

Communication Obligations

• It is essential for the airline to inform passengers about why their flight was disrupted and also share the reason in detail.
• The availability of compensation
• File a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency for help with any concerns about travel experience.
• Get updates about the travel situation every 30 minutes until a new departure time is set or other arrangements are made.
• Air Canada will share any new information as quickly as possible.
• Announcements will be made in a way that everyone can hear and the airline will provide visible displays when requested if you need to see the information.
• Additionally, the airline will communicate through your preferred method when someone needs support due to a disability.

Delay or Cancellation Obligations

• Air Canada offers a different travel option or gives money back when the flight is delayed by three hours or more or canceled.
• Air Canada will book you a spot on the next available flight with them/a partner airline within 48 hours at no additional cost.
• The choice is available to get a refund or another way to travel both of which will be at no cost to you if there are no flights available within that 48-hour window under the Air Canada Refund Policy.
• The airline will still refund your ticket and provide a free flight back to where you originally started your journey when a person chooses to get a refund but no longer at the airport.
• You can ask for a refund at any time before they confirm a new reservation for you.

Refund Obligations

• Air Canada must refund the cost of the ticket when the service was not provided to the passengers such as an Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike or other reason.
• A partial refund must be provided when the alternate travel facilities offer a lower class of service than the original ticket.
• Similarly, the refund must go to the owner of the ticket and must be provided in the original form of payment that was used at the time of payment under the Air Canada Refund Policy. The process of refund must be completed within 30 days.
• The airline will provide assistance when someone’s travel plans have been impacted by the Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike and feels that their rights have been violated.

Please do not hesitate to contact Air Canada right away if you have been affected. Gather the following to support your case:

• Proof of your flight tickets and travel plans
• Documents showing how you have lost money
• Any messages or communications you have had with Air Canada

The prompt action will help strengthen your case and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Main Causes Behind the Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike

The strike by flight attendants on Air Canada in 2025 was primarily caused by the disagreement over the compensation for extra work (before and after flights) specifically at the board and deplan duration. The union represents over 10,000 flight attendants who address Unpaid Work and ensure the wages keep pace with inflation. Here is the detailed discussion on the causes of this strike:

• Ground Pay: One significant issue that came up was about the pay for employees who assist passengers at the boarding gate. The staff argued that they did not get anything for this work, which they performed before the plan doors closed.
• Impact on Passengers: The staff’s strike resulted in significant flight disruption with thousands of flight cancellations and affected thousands of passengers.
• Wage Disparity: The flight attendants of Air Canada were paid less than their counterparts at other domestic carriers. The offered wage increases did not address the rising cost of inflation and daily lives.
• Negotiation Standoff: The workers’ union has been trying to negotiate with Air Canada for several months but they have not been able to come to an agreement that everyone is happy with.
• Government Intervention: The Canadian government attempted to end the Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike with the order to get the flight attendants back and refer the dispute to binding arbitration. However, the union initially refused, which led to further disruption and defiance of the order to return to work.

Impact Of Ongoing Strike By Air Canada’s Staff on Flights And Travellers

An Air Canada flight attendant strike which ended with an agreement on Tuesday had a significant impact on the travellers and flights. Thousands of flights were cancelled, stranding thousands of passengers in Canada and worldwide as well. The strike began on Saturday which led to the cancellations of over 3,000 flights like domestic and international. It will take various days for the airline to end this strike and resume flight services. But, it impacted the flight and travellers in many other ways as described below:

Impact on Flights:

• Cancellations: Air Canada Airlines was forced to rescind up to hundreds of flights it resulted over 700 flight cancellations per day including Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada.
• Schedule Disruption: The airlines have shared that it would take up to 7 to 10 days to resume flight operations due to the Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike.
• Least Rebooking Option: It is hard for travellers to find available flights on other airlines due to the peak summer travel season, while Air Canada offers refund options.

Impact On Travellers

• Stranded Passengers: Thousands of travelers were left stuck both in Canada and around the world.
• Financial Losses: Many of them have also faced financial hardships due to revoked flights/ lost hotel reservations/ and other travel costs.
• Rebooking Issues: Some flyers have experienced challenges for new flight reservation as there were few options available with other airlines and prices were often higher.
• Stress: The situation led to a great deal of frustration for many passengers with some feel angry and let down by the circumstances.
• Assistance for Flight Attendants: Many travelers showed support for the flight attendants and stood behind their demands for fair pay with recognition for their hard work.

Consider the Tips To Navigate Flight Disruptions Due to a Strike by Flight Attendants

• Stay Informed and Proactive: Use mobile apps and websites to gather real-time updates. Try to contact Air Canada customer service to inquire about the reason for the flight disruption.
• Prepare for Flight Disruption: Keep the necessary things like medicine/ chargers/ and other items in your carry-on luggage.
• Manage Stress: Flight disruptions can be stressful so you must try to focus to find solutions to come out of these situations.

A Bit About Air Canada Pet & Baggage Policy

Here are the specific conditions that are stated in the pet and baggage policy for Air Canada Airlines in terms of a strike by the flight attendants:

Air Canada Airlines Pet Policy in the Event Of Flight Disruptions

• If your flight gets disrupted, there are some options to travel with your pet but it can be a bit tricky under the Air Canada Pet Policy.
• Check if there is room for your pet on the new flight after you rebook when your pet is flying with you in the cabin.
• You might have to find other arrangements as some flights might not allow them if your pet is booked in the cargo.
• It is better to reach out to Air Canada for details specific to your situation.

Air Canada Airlines Baggage Policy For Flight Disruption Situation

• Air Canada Airlines offers assistance if your flight is disrupted and you have issues with your luggage.
• It will try to get them to you within 24 hours if your bags are delayed.
• It will give you back any fees you paid for checked bags for the lost baggage as per the Air Canada Baggage Policy.
• Make sure to tell an Air Canada representative about your delayed luggage right when you arrive.
• Report this at the baggage service counter as soon as you land for the damaged baggage.

The Final Thoughts!

May the information presented in this article on the Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike be helpful for those whose flights are disrupted by the airline. The strike caused the disruptions of various flight routes and affected the journey of thousands of passengers. We have already discussed the reason behind this strike and the way to handle these situations as a passenger of Air Canada. In case you need the answer to any of your questions related to the strike, do not hesitate to contact our professionals at Toursntravelpro +1-866-679-5070 and acquire a quick solution.