Air Canada announced Thursday that it will cancel all flights starting Saturday morning, after failing to reach an agreement with its flight attendants' union. Speaking at a press conference in Toronto, the airline's Chief Operating Officer, Mark Nasr, said the carrier will begin gradually canceling some flights before suspending all operations on Saturday morning. Dozens of flights could be canceled by the end of Thursday, with another 500 cancellations expected by the end of Friday, Nasr said. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) informed the airline on Wednesday that its members will go on strike starting Saturday if no tentative agreement is reached over cabin crew demands. Direct flights between Canadian cities and Morocco could also be affected. A complete halt in operations could impact nearly 130,000 passengers a day, while Air Canada's losses could reach $50 million per day. Negotiations have stalled over wage increases for flight attendants and unpaid work during non-flying hours. On Thursday, Federal Employment Minister Patty Hajdu urged both sides to continue talks until a deal is reached. Earlier this week, CUPE rejected the possibility of binding arbitration, calling it an attempt by the employer to strip members of their rights. Hajdu said federal mediators are «ready and able to work with the parties 24/7 until they reach an agreement». Article modifié le 15/08/2025 à 12h44
