AviTrader sponsorship ad

Air Canada flight attendants defy government back-to-work order

Air Canada / Shutterstock
© Shutterstock

More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants are continuing their strike in open defiance of a federal back-to-work order, escalating a dispute that has disrupted flights and raised questions about the limits of government intervention in industrial action. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the airline’s cabin crew, confirmed on Sunday that members would remain off the job despite orders to return by 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

The decision came after Canada’s jobs minister, Patty Hajdu, invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code on Saturday. The provision empowers the minister to require the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene in order to “secure industrial peace and protect the interests of Canada, Canadians and the economy.” CNN reported that CUPE accused Air Canada of pushing for government intervention instead of engaging in meaningful negotiations. “We invite Air Canada back to the bargaining table, rather than relying on the federal government to do their dirty work for them when bargaining gets a little bit tough,” the union said in a statement.

The strike has already caused widespread disruption. Air Canada cancelled 240 flights on Sunday afternoon, saying CUPE had “illegally directed its flight attendant members” to ignore the CIRB’s order. The airline announced it would notify customers of cancellations, advised travellers not to go to airports without confirmed bookings on other airlines, and stated it expected normal services to resume by Monday evening.

The dispute escalated after CUPE members voted 99.7% in favour of strike action last week and walked out early on Saturday. Flight attendants are demanding higher wages and compensation for duties performed while aircraft remain grounded. Air Canada has countered that it has already offered a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, alongside a 12% to 16% hourly pay rise in the first year.

As CNN noted, the standoff has left the government in a difficult position, trying to balance workers’ rights to strike with the need to protect Canada’s economy and air transport system. The outcome of CUPE’s defiance may determine whether Air Canada returns to the negotiating table or whether stronger legal action is taken against the union.

Share this Article
Tuesday September 9, 2025
Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation has announced a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its autonomous flight technology. As part of Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), a Department-level exercise led by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the company successfully demonstrated and validated ... Read More »
Tuesday September 9, 2025
VÆRIDION
VÆRIDION, the Munich-based all-electric aircraft manufacturer, has announced the securing of its first battery manufacturing facility at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport. The site is scheduled to become operational in the first quarter of 2026 and represents a signif... Read More »
Tuesday September 9, 2025
GA Telesis
GA Telesis, has announced its successful role as arranger and ongoing servicer in the acquisition of sixteen aircraft leased to airlines across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia from subsidiaries of Merx Aviation. This acquistion is in association with aff... Read More »
Tuesday September 9, 2025
PT6 engine Gama Aviation
Gama Aviation Engineering Ltd is pleased to announce the signing of a new Premium Service Provider Agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada Customer Service Centre Europe. The agreement formally designates Gama Aviation as an authorised service provider for t... Read More »
Tuesday September 9, 2025
Avelo Airlines AirTeamImages
Avelo Airlines has announced the finalisation of a new funding round, marking a turning point in its trajectory. This is the largest capital injection since its initial Series A and is intended to support the airline’s expansion in domestic and Caribbean mar... Read More »
Tuesday September 9, 2025
Greg Mays ATSG
Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), has announced the appointment of Greg Mays as President for the company’s commercial and operations teams. Mays is a seasoned aviation executive with a track record of delivering growth and operational excellence. As Exec... Read More »
Monday September 8, 2025
ATR 72-600 SUM Air
Avation has announced the signing of a lease agreement with South Korean airline SUM Air for the delivery of a new ATR 72-600 aircraft. The aircraft is part of Avation’s firm order for ten ATR 72-600s placed in 2024 under its long-term purchase contract with... Read More »
Monday September 8, 2025
Condor A320 AirTeamImages
CrossConsense has announced the successful completion of a major AMOS-to-AMOS data migration project for Condor. The AMOS Pro initiative represents an important milestone in the airline’s digital transformation journey. The project involved transferring data... Read More »
Monday September 8, 2025
Ben Smith Britten-Norman
Britten-Norman, the manufacturer of the Islander aircraft and provider of aircraft support and modifications, has appointed Ben Smith as Head of Aftermarket to oversee its global support strategy and drive growth in the aftermarket sector. Smith brings over a ... Read More »
Monday September 8, 2025
A-29 Super Tucano aircraft Embraer
Embraer and Panama have finalised a contract for the purchase of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The fleet will be operated by the Panamanian National Air and Naval Service (SENAN) as a new platform for surveillance and protection. “It is an honor for E... Read More »
Monday September 8, 2025
AAR
AAR Corp, a provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs and OEMs, has been awarded a new contract to deliver mobility solutions to the Defence Logistics Agency Troop Support. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract c... Read More »
Monday September 8, 2025
CSI Leasing
CSI Leasing, Inc. (CSI), a independent equipment leasing company, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Aeroservicios, a provider of ground support equipment (GSE) for nearly 30 years. Based in Miami, Aeroservicios specialises in reconditioning ... Read More »
Friday September 5, 2025
GE Aerospace Shutterstock
GE Aerospace plans to invest US$75 million in its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and component repair facilities across APAC (Asia-Pacific) region by the end of 2025. This initiative forms part of the company’s global, multi-year US$1 billion MRO inv... Read More »
Friday September 5, 2025
Dash 8-400 aircraft De Havilland
Chorus Aviation has announced the planned sale of three Dash 8-400 aircraft and the completion of its acquisition of Elisen & Associates Inc. The Canadian aviation group confirmed that it has entered into an agreement to sell the three Dash 8-400s, a regio... Read More »
Friday September 5, 2025
Block Aero and Ascent Aviation Partnership Shutterstock
Block Aero Technologies, a aviation blockchain platform, has announced strategic a partnership with Ascent Aviation Services to deliver a fully digital solution for Ascent’s reclamations business. The collaboration will see aircraft disassembly and recycling... Read More »
Friday September 5, 2025
Leane Higgins TrueNoord
TrueNoord, a regional aircraft leasing company, has expanded its Singapore team with the appointment of Leane Higgins as Technical Director for APAC (Asia-Pacific). Higgins brings more than 20 years of aviation industry experience to TrueNoord. She previously ... Read More »
Friday September 5, 2025
Air Côte d’Ivoire A330neo Airbus
Air Côte d’Ivoire, the national flag carrier of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, has taken delivery of the first of its two Airbus A330-900 aircraft. The A330neo is the first widebody aircraft to join Air Côte d’Ivoire’s fleet and is configured in a f... Read More »
Thursday September 4, 2025
WestJet aircraft order Boeing
Boeing and WestJet have announced that the Canadian airline will purchase 67 additional Boeing aircraft—comprising 60 737-10 jets with, options for 25 more, along with seven 787-9 jets,with options for four more—bringing its confirmed order to 123 as it ex... Read More »
Thursday September 4, 2025
CFM56-7B engine JALCo
Jordan Airmotive (JALCo) has announced the further expansion of its cooperation with Aeolus Engine Services, a provider of aviation leasing and asset management. Under this agreement, the first CFM56-7B engine from the programme has been fully overhauled and d... Read More »
Thursday September 4, 2025
Frank Haberkamp MTU Maintenace
MTU Maintenance has appointed Frank Haberkamp as Managing Director of MTU Maintenance Serbia, effective from September 1 2025. He succeeds Rainer Becker, who has been with the facility since the project phase and, following a handover period, will return to th... Read More »
AviTrader aviation news

2025 MEDIA KIT

VP Sales & Business Development Americas
Tamar Jorssen
tamar.jorssen@avitrader.com
Phone: +1 (778) 213 8543
VP International Sales & Marketing
Malte Tamm
malte.tamm@avitrader.com
Phone: +49 (0)162 8263049

Subscribe to the most widely accepted news source in the aviation industry!


Free Daily, Weekly and MRO Publications delivered to your Inbox!
News Alerts, Editorials, Marketplace, Executive Interviews +more

Select publications:

*we respect your privacy and AviTrader will not share your email address to any 3rd Parties.