- Air Canada gives a lockout opinion to mitigate the repercussions of the strike on customers and allow an ordered stop of its activities
- Air Canada and Red Air Canada flights will gradually be suspended over the next 72 hours; Air Canada Express flights are not affected
- Customers whose flights are canceled will be notified and may obtain a full refund; Customers without confirmed flight must avoid going to the airport
- An arbitration imposed by the government was requested after the SCFP negotiators rejected an offer which included an increase of 38 % of the remuneration over four years, as well as the supply of Air Canada arbitration
MONTRÉAL, August 13, 2025 / CNW/ – Air Canada announced today that it had given a 72 -hour lockout opinion, as provided for in the law, to the Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP), which represents 10,000 Air Canada and Red Air Canada on -board agents, after the union has given an intention to trigger a strike. In order to provide its customers with a clear portrait of the situation, Air Canada will start the gradual stop of most of its activities, which should be completed over the next three days. The airline also requested arbitration imposed by the government to resolve the situation.
Air Canada (Groupe CNW/Air Canada)
Despite eight months of good faith negotiations, which included the help of federal conciliators, and an offer to use enforceable arbitration, Air Canada was unable to conclude an agreement in principle with the union. Air Canada submitted to the union a global offer revised on August 11, which did not require any concession from its on -board officers in return and provided for a 38 % increase in overall compensation over four years. The offer also concerned the issue of remuneration for the ground service, the improvement of retirement services and the benefits, the increase in rest periods of crews, as well as other improvements. In an additional attempt to avoid any disruption, Air Canada also proposed to the SCFP to use the enforceable arbitration of a third party to settle the out -of -suspended discussion points. The SCFP reacted by giving a strike notice that could start on August 16.
“We regret the impact that a disturbance will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,” said Michael Rousseau, president and chief executive officer of Air Canada. However, the disappointing conduct of SCFP negotiators and the declared intention of the union to trigger a strike place us in a situation where the only responsible action plan at our disposal is to draw a clear portrait of the situation by starting a controlled stop of Air Canada and Red Air Canada activities using a lockout. As evidenced by other work conflicts that occurred in the industry, an unlanned or uncontrolled judgment, which could now occur if a strike was triggered, can be even more chaotic for travelers.
“Our last offer included a 38 % increase in global remuneration over four years, which would have made our highest remunerated on -board agents Canadaas well as provisions concerning remuneration for ground service and other improvements in terms of balance between professional and private life, career and retirement. At the same time, we did not ask for any concession from the union. Given this, although we were ready to negotiate with the SCFP, we asked for the arbitration imposed by the government, because we now consider that this is the only way to close negotiations and to reduce the effects on travelers, businesses and the Canadian economy. »»
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and Pal Airlines will continue to be insured normally. However, these regional partners only carry around 20 % of daily Air Canada customers. Air Canada and Air Canada Red transport around 130,000 customers per day, who could be affected by a disturbance, which includes the 25,000 Canadians that the carrier brings back from foreigners every day, and which could be blocked.
Arbitrage
On August 11, Air Canada proposed to the union that the parties resorted to an independent arbiter to help solve the pending problems in order to develop a new agreement in principle by enforceable arbitration, but the SCFP rejected this offer. The company has now requested the immediate intervention of the Canadian government so that it can use its prerogatives to order an enforceable arbitration of interests under article 107 of the Canadian Labor Code Before a work stoppage comes into force. The company estimates that recent government interventions in work conflicts in rail, port and air sectors at Canada constitute a precedent that has proven itself.
The code is designed to encourage peaceful settlement of work conflicts in cases where the parties come to an impasse after significant collective negotiations took place. In this case, despite the fact that there were prolonged negotiations with an unprecedented offer of increase in global remuneration, it does not seem that a resolution is possible in the near future. In addition, Canadians and other stakeholders, as well as the Canadian economy, will gradually feel the difficulties and other repercussions of this difficult situation.
Air Canada has worked hard and in good faith to conclude a new collective agreement with the SCFP in the past eight months and remains available for new negotiations or to explore options in order to finalize a new collective agreement. This includes the previous offer of Air Canada to use the enforceable arbitration of a third party with the union.
Incidence on activities
Air Canada was forced to make the decision to put its locked-out on-the-on and regrets and regrets the repercussions that the suspension of activities will have on its customers due to the strike advice given by the union during this highly stuck period.
However, as events have shown in other airlines in recent years, a sudden or unmanned work stoppage leads to much greater disruption than planned suspension of thefts. A gradual reduction in activities allows Air Canada to inform its customers in advance, to reduce the risk that they remain blocked and to give them a clearer portrait of the situation. Customers and the company have time and the possibility of taking other travel measures.
An unforeseen stop of activities also represents a major risk for the company and its other employees. Air Canada is carrying out its activities worldwide in around 65 countries on six continents with a park of 259 aircraft. By optimally positioning its planes and crews for a stop, Air Canada may carry out the necessary regular maintenance work and resume its regular service more quickly.
The first flights will be canceled on August 14, others on August 15, and there will be a complete cessation of air Canada and Red Air Canada flights on August 16.
Information for customers
Customers whose flights are canceled will be notified and will be entitled to a full refund, which they can obtain online at www.aircanada.com or using the Air Canada mobile application. The company has concluded agreements with other Canadian and foreign carriers in order to offer customers other travel options as far as possible. Customers will be notified of the other travel options offered to them. However, given that the other carriers are already very busy due to the summer peak period, obtaining such a capacity will take time and, in many cases, will not be immediately possible.
Air Canada has taken other measures to reduce the repercussions on customers. This includes the implementation of a flexible reservation modification policy for all customers, so that they can modify or postpone their trip at no additional cost. In all cases, Air Canada will inform passengers of their rights in accordance with the applicable rules if their flight is canceled or delayed, and will comply with its regulatory obligations.
Air Canada strongly advises customers to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed reservation and their flights are displayed as planned (the status of your flight is to be checked at www.aircanada.com or on the mobile application before going to the airport). Customers are also advised to use self-service tools, as waiting times for service centers will undoubtedly be very high.
Additional information for customers, including a FAQ, is accessible to www.aircanada.com/action.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is the largest airline in Canadathe country’s national carrier and a co -founder member of the Star Alliance network – the largest global grouping of airlines. Regular air Canada lines connect more than 180 airports in the Canadain the United States and abroad on six continents. Air Canada holds the four -star coast of Skytrax. The Air Canada Airplan program is the main loyalty program of Canada In terms of travel, by offering its members the possibility of accumulating or exchanging points with the largest world network of partner carriers – 45 – and with its retailers, hotel and vehicle rental partners. Through the Air Canada vacation, the company offers more choices than any other Canadian tour operator for hundreds of destinations around the world, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, excursions and vehicle rentals. Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada Fret Division, has the car capacity and connectivity to serve hundreds of destinations on six continents using passenger flights and all-cargo flights from Air Canada. Air Canada’s climatic ambition includes a long -term aim which aspires to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To find out more, consult the documentation of the Air Canada GIFCC. Air Canada shares are negotiated on the market on the scholarship Toronto (Tsx) I Canada And on the OTCQX platform in the United States.
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