The first flights are scheduled for the evening of August 19, but a return to full service could take seven to ten days.

The union representing Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants has announced that a tentative agreement has been reached with management, bringing the strike to an immediate end.

According to the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), negotiations that resumed Monday evening with a mediator allowed both parties to reach an agreement shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday.

In its message published on social media, the union did not provide details of the tentative agreement, which it will present to its members during virtual meetings.

The union also stated that it must inform its members that they are “required to fully cooperate with the resumption of Air Canada’s operations.”

Relief for travellers

The conclusion of this tentative agreement — and the announcement of the end of the strike — will be met with relief by the many travellers whose plans were disrupted since the start of the work stoppage on Saturday.

On Monday, the cancellation of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights had been extended until 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Gradual resumption of flights today

Air Canada will gradually resume its service today, Tuesday, August 19, following the mediated agreement with the union representing its flight attendants.

Mediation talks had begun on the condition that the union commit to ensuring that the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants would immediately return to work, allowing Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge to resume operations, which had been halted since August 16.

“The suspension of our service is extremely difficult for our customers,” said Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We deeply regret the impact of this labour dispute on them and we apologize. Now, our priority is to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible.”

Patience required

“Resuming service at a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex task,” Rousseau continued. “We therefore ask our customers for patience and understanding over the next few days. I want to assure them that everyone at Air Canada is doing everything possible to get them on board a flight very soon.”

The first flights are scheduled for the evening of August 19. However, customers are advised that a full and regular return to service could take seven to ten days, since aircraft and crews are not currently positioned where they should be. During this process, some flights will be cancelled over the coming days until the schedule is stabilized.

Important to know

Only customers with confirmed reservations whose flights are shown as operating should go to the airport (check flight status at aircanada.com or on the Air Canada mobile app before heading to the airport).

Air Canada will provide options to customers whose flights are cancelled, including a full refund, a travel credit for future use, or rebooking with other airlines — although capacity is currently limited due to the peak summer travel period.

With information from The Canadian Press.