Air Canada CEO says hopeful of resuming flights on Tuesday, even as flight attendants refuse to call off strike

“(We’re) obviously disappointed; disappointed for our customers. Over half a million customers have been impacted by this illegal strike and we want to see an end to it,” Rousseau said.

Government calls strike illegal

On Sunday, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board held that the ongoing strike was illegal and ordered 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants to return to work.

“The members of the union’s bargaining unit are directed to resume the performance of their duties immediately and to refrain from engaging in unlawful strike activities,” a directive signed by Jennifer Webster, the vice-chairperson of the CIRB, said.

Union refuses to end strike

The workers’ union, however, has refused to accept the order and is continuing with the strike that has forced Air Canada to cancel around 600 flights on Monday.

CUPE national president Mark Hancock said the flight attendants would not be returning to work on Monday, and the union would continue to fight for better working conditions.

“If it means folks like me are going to jail, so be it. If it means our union being fined, so be it,” Hancock said.

The CUPE National President, speaking just now on the Air Canada flight attendant strike, says he’s willing to go to jail over this: pic.twitter.com/K9QyGcd1jA

— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) August 18, 2025

Hancock, however, apologised to Air Canada passengers who have been stranded outside Canada and those whose travel plans have been affected by the strike.

Flight disruption due to strike

Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, which carries 130,000 people daily, estimates that nearly 500,000 passengers have been impacted by the strike.

Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had also expressed disappointment over the situation and urged a quick resolution.

“Hundreds of thousands of travellers, both Canadians and international visitors, are being disrupted,” Carney said on Sunday.

Why caused the strike

CUPE, which represents over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, gave a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday after negotiations over pay and working conditions collapsed.  Air Canada responded shortly after by saying it would lock out workers

Earlier, the airline had offered a pay increase of 17.2 per cent over four years, which the CUPE rejected, arguing that it didn’t go far enough because of inflation.