Did you miss the strike threats at Canada’s largest airline? They’re now back after the summer 2024 saga! Yes, Air Canada operations could be disrupted as early as August: their 10,000 flight attendants will vote on a strike mandate next week. And their union is recommending voting in favor.
They’ll probably vote for a strike. But at this stage, it’s not extremely concerning yet.
So I’m just sharing this quick preview; I’ll update the very comprehensive strike guide from last summer very soon.
Here are the details of the potential Air Canada strike.
Overview of the potential Air Canada strike
Here’s the summary of the situation to date:
- Air Canada has 10,000+ flight attendants
- Their employment contract expired in March 2025
- Negotiations have been ongoing since then
- The federal mediation process has failed
Here’s what comes next:
- The union (CUPE) is organizing a vote on a strike mandate
- The union recommends voting in favor of the strike
- The vote will take place from July 28 to August 5
- The strike COULD begin around August 16
- Preemptive flight cancellations could start a few days before
- We’ll know much more in the next week
I’ll tell you if you should worry just below, because it really depends.
But what’s certain is that it’s worth monitoring at least. Only if you have a flight between approximately August 12 and 31, and it’s operated by Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, obviously (Air Canada Express is excluded).
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Should I worry about an Air Canada strike?
Just to be clear, as of today, the chances there won’t be a strike are much higher than the chances there will be a strike.
In the North American aviation industry, strike threats are very common, and strikes are very uncommon.
Usually, threats are powerful leverage, and they result in the parties managing to reach an agreement at the last minute.
But if a strike really happens, all flights are completely canceled. Air Canada operates more than 1,000 flights per day. It would obviously be a total nightmare. But we’re still very far from that.
Even if flight attendants vote “yes,” there’s a lot of time for them to agree on a deal before the actual strike (and for the government to get involved; more on that in a few seconds).
However, last summer, it came very close to the pilots going on strike. They had even given their notice of strike. Air Canada had even started canceling flights preemptively. Finally, it was resolved at the very last minute.
By the way, this is very important, so I’m reminding you that you have many more rights as a passenger when:
- It’s the airline that cancels your flight
- Instead of you
- It’s a flight canceled before the start of the strike
- Instead of after the beginning of the strike
So because of the first element, it’s probably smart to resist the urge to react impulsively and irrationally; a good strategy for all flights (but also for everything in life, by the way).
And once again, knowing your rights and aviation regulations is one of the basics of being a travel pro. Don’t miss our detailed updated guide on the Air Canada strike soon.
Finally, there’s also a big unknown: the new prime minister’s approach regarding labor conflicts in a sector as essential as air transport. Trudeau didn’t want to get involved in 2024 (to Air Canada’s great dismay), but if Carney blocks the strike, there just won’t be one. To be continued.
What should I do about the Air Canada strike?
The risk is highest on the few days before August 16 and the week that follows. The farther away from that, the lower the risk.
If your flight isn’t between approximately August 12 and 31, you can relax and not worry unnecessarily.
If your flight is scheduled during those dates, and you change or cancel, you’ll incur fees. Possibly for nothing.
If your flight is during those dates and you absolutely CANNOT arrive later, in that case, I certainly suggest booking a backup flight!
(That’s a completely refundable flight, so a very expensive one, on another airline. If you don’t need it, you get a full refund. If you need it, you use it and you get a full refund for your Air Canada flight to at least compensate. Complete guide on backup flights coming soon!)
If your flight is during those dates and you don’t want to pay more, as long as you paid for your flight with a good credit card (as you should ALWAYS do; one of the most important tips), you’ll get free hotel and meals while waiting for the free replacement flight that Air Canada will owe you (which might not be for a few days).
If you haven’t booked your flights yet but need to take one during those dates, then it might make sense to choose accordingly.
I actually have a concrete example of this, just like during the 2024 strike threat. I need to go to Toronto on August 21 because my girlfriend wants to attend a panel of Back to the Future cast members for the 40th anniversary of her favorite movie.
At equal prices, personally, I definitely prefer Air Canada over any Canadian airline. It’s the best airline in Canada according to many surveys (and even the 19th best in the world).
Okay, it’s mostly because I have Aeroplan elite status, so I get lots of benefits (including free Air Canada lounge access and free extra legroom seats).
But I don’t really want to risk it for this specific flight. The event is on a specific date and I can’t miss it. And I certainly don’t want to leave earlier either. It’s easier to book another airline, especially since they’re all currently the same price.
Maybe it’s time to finally try Porter’s new fleet of jets and take advantage of my automatic elite status included with their amazing new card with a record welcome bonus, the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard.
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Summary
Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants will vote on a strike mandate starting Monday. Their union is recommending voting in favor. A strike could be triggered around August 16, with all flights canceled. But that doesn’t mean it’ll get to that point. To be continued.
What would you like to know about the potential Air Canada strike? Tell us in the comments below.
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Featured image: Air Canada plane (photo credit: Air Canada)
