Air Canada to Soar Again: Flight Operations Resume Post-Strike

Air Canada plans to resume flights after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) acted on a directive to end a cabin crew strike. The strike had led to the suspension of around 700 daily flights. Operations are expected to stabilize in the coming days.

Air Canada is set to restart its flights on Sunday after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) intervened to terminate a cabin crew strike. The strike resulted in the cancellation of approximately 700 daily flights, causing major disruption for travelers.

The CIRB's directive, following a move by the government to mandate binding arbitration, requires all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to resume work by 2 p.m. ET. While the airline supported the arbitration, the unionized flight attendants were strongly against it.

Many Air Canada cabin crew members had walked out on Saturday—their first strike action since 1985—following prolonged negotiations on a new contract. Anticipating the strike, the airline began canceling flights on Friday, affecting over 100,000 travelers. Flights are scheduled to resume on Sunday evening, with gradual stabilization over the next week.

(With inputs from agencies.)