Air Canada to Gradually Resume Service Today after Reaching a Mediated Settlement with its Flight Attendant Union

Key Takeaways:

• Flights resume August 19 after a three-day shutdown
• Mediated settlement reached with CUPE, the flight attendants’ union
• 10,000 attendants returning to work immediately
• Mediator William Kaplan facilitated the deal
• Airline apologizes and pledges swift assistance to customers

Resuming Service

Air Canada says it will “gradually restart its operations today” after striking a mediated accord with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The agreement, reached late Monday and overseen by mediator William Kaplan, clears the way for the carrier to return to the skies following a three-day grounding.

The Labor Standoff

Operations at both Air Canada and its low-cost arm, Air Canada Rouge, had been halted since August 16 amid a dispute with the union representing the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants. Under the terms of the new arrangement, CUPE committed to have those attendants “immediately return to work,” allowing schedules to resume.

A Mediator in the Middle

William Kaplan, accepted by both sides, steered the talks to conclusion. Details of the settlement were not disclosed, but the swift return-to-work pledge was central to restarting flights, the company indicated.

Apology to Travelers

“The suspension of our service is extremely difficult for our customers. We deeply regret and apologize for the impact on them of this labour disruption,” Air Canada said in announcing the deal. The carrier added that its “priority now is to get them moving as quickly” as operations ramp back up.

What Passengers Can Expect

With the agreement in place, Air Canada is encouraging travelers to “book and fly with confidence.” The company cautioned that the restart will be gradual, but promised continuing updates as flights are restored across its network.