By Kavita Mistry 
Air Canada announced that it has resumed operations after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing its 10,000 flight attendants. The mediation process, overseen by mutually appointed mediator William Kaplan, led to the union committing to an immediate return to work, allowing the airline to restart services across both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, which had been suspended since August 16.
The carrier confirmed that its first flights were scheduled to operate from the evening of August 19. However, the return to a full schedule is expected to take seven to ten days as aircraft and crew are repositioned. During this period, some flights will continue to be cancelled until operations stabilise. Customers are advised to check their flight status on aircanada.com or the airline’s mobile app before heading to the airport.
Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada, said, “The suspension of our service is extremely difficult for our customers. We deeply regret and apologise for the impact on them of this labour disruption. Our priority now is to get them moving as quickly as possible. Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding over the coming days. I assure them that everyone at Air Canada is doing everything possible to enable them to travel soon.”
Air Canada confirmed that customers affected by cancellations will be offered options, including a full refund, a credit for future travel, or re-booking on other airlines where possible. The airline added that during the ratification or binding arbitration process, neither a strike nor a lockout is possible, ensuring customers can book and travel with certainty.
