Air Canada cancelling flights after attendants give 72-hour strike notice

Unionized flight attendants with Air Canada have given the airline a 72-hour strike notice, meaning they could walk off the job as early as Saturday morning. Air Canada says they are going to begin cancelling flights tomorrow.

The Air Canada Component of CUPE served the notice just before 1 a.m. after negotiators failed to reach a deal at the bargaining table. The airline also issued a lockout notice shortly thereafter.

In a media release, the airline says they “regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers” but are cancelling flights to provide customers with certainty.

The cancellations come after months of negotiations, mainly over wages and unpaid hours.

Air Canada’s website says that if you are travelling between Aug. 15 – 18, you can change your flight for free if you booked before Aug. 13.

Passengers will be able to rebook their flights between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12. Non-refundable flights can still be cancelled, and will convert to credit that can be used for future Air Canada bookings.

If your flight is cancelled by the airline, Air Canada will rebook you on the first available flight.

The airline says that a work stoppage would affect about 130,000 customers who fly with Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge on a daily basis. Those who fly with Jazz or Pal Airlines will not be affected.

READ MORE: Air Canada flight attendants hold national protest at four major airports