On Sunday, Aug. 17 Air Canada revealed it plans to resume flights following a decision from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board that put a swift end to the strike from Air Canada flight attendants that saw more than 1,500 flight canceled.
“The CIRB has directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to resume their duties by 14:00 EDT on Aug. 17, 2025,” the airline said in a statement at the time.
However, the flight attendants aren’t giving in. Despite being ordered back to work by the Canadian government, twice, the flight attendants are standing their ground, forcing Air Canada to continue cancelling flights.
Strike Ruled Unlawful by Canadian Government
Following a hearing on August 17, the CIRB declared that CUPE’s strike is unlawful and ordered the union leadership, which authorized the strike, to immediately tell its members to end the work stoppage. It also directed individual members of the union to cease all unlawful activities and return to work.
Air Canada Changes Course
In another statement released by the airline, Air Canada revealed it canceled 240 more flights it planned to resume as of Sunday, Aug. 17 before flight attendants continued their “unlawful” strike.
“All operations of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge were suspended August 16, 2025, due to a strike by CUPE. In accordance with the Government of Canada’s direction, the CIRB ordered a resumption of our activities and directed our flight attendants to return to work,” the airline said in a statement. “This order ended both CUPE’s strike and the lockout Air Canada had imposed in response. Approximately 240 flights scheduled to operate beginning this afternoon have now been cancelled. Typically, the carriers operate 700 flights a day.”
The airline now estimates 500,000 customers’ flights have been cancelled as a result of the strike with an additional 538 canceled flights on Monday, Aug. 18.
Related: Air Canada Breaks Silence With Strong Message After Government Ends Strike
