Air Canada cancels all mainline flights amid union defiance of back-to-work order

Air Canada has suspended its plan to gradually restart flights after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) instructed flight attendants to ignore a Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) order to return to work. As a result, all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights are cancelled until further notice. Regional flights operated by Air Canada Express, under Jazz and PAL, continue to operate normally.

Customers are advised not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking with another airline. Impacted passengers will be notified directly and can also check flight status via the website or mobile app.

Flexible Rebooking & Refunds

• Tickets purchased or Aeroplan rewards redeemed by August 17 for travel between August 15–20, 2025, can be changed free of charge to another Air Canada flight between August 22–September 30, 2025.

• Non-refundable fares may be cancelled for credit in an AC Wallet or as a Future Travel Credit.

• Full refunds are available upon request for tickets purchased on or before August 15 for travel on Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge between August 18–19, 2025.

• Customers who booked through Air Canada Vacations must contact them directly.

Under Canada’s Airline Passenger Protection Regulations, passengers are not entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations caused by a labour disruption, though Air Canada will continue to inform customers of their rights.

Contact centre wait times are expected to be high as the airline manages the disruption.

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