The latest chapter in the bitter battle between Air Canada and its flight attendants is underway and the union shows no sign of backing down. It appears that they’re willing to strike until their demands are met, regardless of orders to return to work.
Air Canada Flight Attendants Were Ordered Back to Work on Saturday
On Saturday, August 16, 2026, less than twelve hours after lockout and strike action officially started, Patty Hadju, the Canadian Minister of Jobs and Families, ordered the striking flight attendants back to work. In a statement she said that the work stoppage was causing significant harm to Canadians and the Canadian economy.
She also ordered Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union representing 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants into binding arbitration. Unsurprisingly, union members weren’t happy with this interference and vowed not to report.
According to Air Canada, the union was supposed to provide notice to all members by 12:00 pm EDT on August 18, 2025, that it has revoked its declaration or authorization of strike activities and that all members are required to resume the performance of their duties. Well, that deadline has come and gone and I don’t think they’re going back to work anytime soon.
Union President Willing to go to Jail Over Labor Fight
Mark Hancock, President of CUPE, has flat out stated that the union will ignore the return to work order. He’s stated that the only way its members will return is if a labor agreement gets done. When asked if he was prepared to go to jail over the strike, his response was a simple, “So be it.”
At this point, the vast majority of responses to the strike are in favor of the flight attendants with Air Canada under fire. The airline’s actions seem to have backfired with many stranded travelers supporting flight attendants right to strike.
It will be interesting to see, as this fight drags on, whether or not the tide shifts as more and more travel is impacted. As of August 18, 2025, all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights are cancelled until tomorrow afternoon. The airline now estimates 500,000 customers will be disrupted as a result though that number will likely go higher.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines are not affected by the strike and continue to operate as scheduled.
Air Canada Suspends Earnings Guidance due to the Strike
Due to the cancellations to date, and the continued uncertainty regarding the resumption of service, Air Canada has suspending its guidance for third quarter and full-year 2025 operating results.
In a statement, the carrier stated that it deeply regrets the impact the labor disruption has had on its customers, its stakeholders and the communities it serves. Air Canada is urging passengers to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
Summary
The battle between Air Canada and its flight attendants union continues to rage on. The union was supposed to instruct its members to return to work but has encouraged them to continue the strike instead. This situation doesn’t look like it will resolve itself anytime soon with union leadership saying its members won’t return until both sides have a deal.
