Airlines
CIRB Declares Flight Attendant Strike at Air Canada Unlawful, Orders CUPE to Direct Flight Attendants Back to Work
Air Canada is advising that the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has declared ongoing strike activity by the company’s 10,000 flight attendants is illegal and has ordered the leadership of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to direct its members to return to work. Following a hearing on Aug. 17, the CIRB declared that CUPE’s strike is unlawful. It ordered the union leadership, which authorized the strike, to immediately tell its members to end the work stoppage. It also directed individual members of the union to cease all unlawful activities and return to...
Air Canada suspends third quarter and full year 2025 guidance
Air Canada said today that it is suspending its guidance for third quarter and full-year 2025 operating results due to the effects of the labour disruption by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the resulting suspension of all flights. In a statement, the airline said that on Aug. 17, 2025, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to resume their duties by 14:00 EDT on Aug. 17, 2025. The CIRB further ordered that the term of the collective agreement...
Air Canada to Restart Flights Following Binding Arbitration Referral
Air Canada said it plans to resume flights today (Aug. 17) after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) acted on a directive from the Federal Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, , referring the airline’s contract negotiations with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to final binding interest arbitration. The directive, under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, and the CIRB’s order, ends the strike at Air Canada that resulted in the suspension of more than 700 flights. The CIRB has directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air...
Minister Hajdu orders CIRB to arbitrate dispute between Air Canada, flight attendants
Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, Patty Hajdu has ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board to arbitrate the dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants. And for operations to resume. In a statement, Minister Hajdu said that she exercised her authorities under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code “because it is critical to maintaining and securing industrial peace, protecting Canadians and promoting conditions to resolve the dispute. Despite the parties’ resolution of several key...
Union urges Minister to reject Air Canada’s request for intervention
The union representing Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants has “respectfully urged” Employment Minister, Patty Hajdu “not to intervene pursuant to section 107 of the Canada Labour Code thereby permitting collective bargaining to continue and allowing the parties to negotiate a resolution.” In a statement issued this afternoon (Aug. 15), the Air Canada Component of CUPE said that: “The integrity of the collective bargaining process depends on allowing the parties to reach a resolution through free and fair negotiations, without undue interference.” That statement...
WestJet, RBC launch WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard for Business
WestJet and RBC have launched the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard for Business -- Canada's first and only business travel credit card that instantly provides primary cardholders with top-tier airline status. This business credit card promptly awards primary cardholders Silver status with WestJet Rewards, offering them the fastest way to earn WestJet points and maximize travel rewards. As the only RBC business travel Mastercard, cardholders will also have access to a unique collection of extensive travel insurances including trip interruption and trip cancellation...
Air Canada asks federal government to intervene as flight cancellations underway
Air Canada has asked the federal government to send to prevent a strike by the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants that would be devastating for both the airline and the Canadian travelling public. Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs, Air Canada, told a media briefing at a Toronto airport hotel that Air Canada is “working really hard to get a deal at the table -- that’s where you get the best deal -- but we’ve hit an impasse.” Meloul-Wechsler continued: “When we hit the impasse we did offer CUPE...
TICO provides information for consumers with upcoming Air Canada Vacations bookings
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is providing information for consumers who booked travel services with Air Canada Vacations (a TICO-registered tour operator) either directly or through a TICO-registered travel retailer (including TICO-registered online booking websites). TICO points out that at this time, as Air Canada flights have yet to be cancelled or impacted, Air Canada Vacations is offering a goodwill policy, which allows consumers with imminent travel to change their plans or receive a future travel voucher. More information can be found at this link. Should...