Air Canada has been formally notified by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) that the approximately 10,000 flight attendants it represents intend to commence a strike from August 16 through August 18, 2025.

August 19th, 2025
Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing over 10,000 flight attendants, have reached a tentative mediated agreement, officially ending the labor strike that began in the early hours of August 16, 2025. The agreement follows several days of intense disruption, during which Air Canada was forced to cancel thousands of flights, affecting approximately 130,000 passengers daily and significantly impacting 75% of cargo operations.

Air Canada has begun a phased resumption of its operations, with the first flights scheduled to depart on the evening of Tuesday, August 19. However, the airline has cautioned that full operational recovery will take time. Due to the displacement of aircraft and crew, flight schedules will remain limited for the next seven to ten days, and some cancellations are expected as operations stabilize.

August 18th, 2025
Over the weekend, the Canadian government formally requested the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene in the ongoing strike action by Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

On Sunday, August 17, Air Canada reported that CUPE had illegally instructed its members to defy the CIRB’s directive to return to work. As a result, the airline was forced to cancel flights that had been scheduled to resume later that day.

CUPE has publicly rejected the CIRB’s back-to-work order, prompting Air Canada to suspend its plan for a gradual resumption of passenger operations. In the interim, Air Canada will continue operating its dedicated freighter fleet, albeit on a reduced schedule.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as developments unfold.

August 15, 2025

Air Canada has released additional information regarding planned operations during the strike due to begin tomorrow:

• Any existing bookings are potentially subject to delay or cancellation.
• If a customer would like to retrieve their cargo, please reach out to the local AC agent.
• Schedule information on aircanadacargo.com may not be accurate until after this strike action, so please verify flights with your local Air Canada Agent.
• If the booking is on a freighter flight (7000 series flight numbers), AC will still accept the cargo.
• The freighters will operate on modified schedules, primarily in the Americas, with stops in Asia and Europe on select routes.
• Air Canada has provided further guidance on their acceptance of AC Fresh products (temp-control perishables), available below.

The following freighter routes are still operational but are currently on modified schedules due to recent adjustments:

• YYZ-NLU-GDL
• YYZ-SJO-UIO-PUJ
• YYZ-ANC-PVG-ANC
• YYZ-LGG
• YYZ-NLU
• YYZ-MIA-LIM
• YYZ-SJU-BOG-MIA
• YYZ-MIA-BOG-MIA
• YYZ-FRA

August 13, 2025

In response, Air Canada will implement temporary operational restrictions. Flight cancellations will begin on August 14, in anticipation of the disruption, as well as restrictions on cargo. Please refer below for specific guidance.

While the strike is expected to proceed as planned, there remains a possibility of government intervention or last-minute agreement, which could alter the current outlook. We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as new information becomes available.
Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please get in touch with your local Air Product Manager.

Please reach out to your local Expeditors representative if you have any questions or concerns.