Air Canada resumes flights after mediated settlement with flight attendant union

Air Canada announced that it has resumed operations after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing its 10,000 flight attendants.

The mediation process, overseen by mutually appointed mediator William Kaplan, led to the union committing to an immediate return to work, allowing the airline to restart services across both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, which had been suspended since August 16.

The carrier confirmed that its first flights were scheduled to operate from the evening of August 19.

However, the return to a full schedule is expected to take seven to ten days as aircraft and crew are repositioned. 

During this period, some flights will continue to be cancelled until operations stabilise.

Customers are advised to check their flight status on aircanada.com or the airline’s mobile app before heading to the airport.

Air Canada confirmed that customers affected by cancellations will be offered options, including a full refund, a credit for future travel, or re-booking on other airlines where possible.

The airline added that during the ratification or binding arbitration process, neither a strike nor a lockout is possible, ensuring customers can book and travel with certainty.