ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Five things to know about a potential work stoppage at Air Canada

Share
MONTREAL -

Air Canada is preparing for a potential shutdown of most operations next week as contract talks with its pilots' union near an impasse.

Here are five things Canadians should know about the situation, and how it could affect travel plans:

What is the timeline for a potential strike or lockout?

Air Canada said Monday that a 72-hour strike or lockout notice could be issued as early as Sunday, Sept. 15. At that point, the airline would begin winding down operations, a process that would take place gradually over three days. The airline says its "managed shutdown" plan is meant to minimize airport chaos and prevent travellers from being stranded.

What should I do if have a flight scheduled for next week?

If you wish to postpone your trip, Air Canada is allowing customers with travel scheduled between Sept. 15 and 23 to make changes right now to their booking at no cost. You can also elect to cancel your flight and receive a credit for future travel instead.

If you choose to keep your booking and a strike or lockout notice is issued and your flight is cancelled, Air Canada will notify you and you'll be eligible for a full refund.

What if my flight is scheduled for later in the month? How long could disruptions at Air Canada last?

If a work stoppage occurs, Air Canada says it will make every effort to resume normal operations as quickly as possible once a settlement with its pilots is reached. But it could take seven to 10 days to restore the system to full capacity in the wake of a complete shutdown. The airline says it will expand its existing goodwill policy around changes and cancellations beyond Sept. 23 if necessary.

Am I owed compensation if my flight is cancelled?

Passengers will receive refunds for cancelled flights, but customers won't be entitled to any additional compensation. Under Canada's existing Airline Passenger Protection Regulations, labour disruptions are considered out of an airline's control and not eligible for compensation requests.

I'm planning to ship goods by air. Will that also be affected?

Cargo operations would also be affected by a shutdown at Air Canada. The airline has already begun limiting acceptance of some goods due to average shipment timelines and the potential risk of disruption.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2024.

CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.

Shamattawa RCMP are searching for a missing six-year-old boy who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning.

B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating the death of a woman who was shot by the RCMP after allegedly barricading herself in a room with a toddler early Thursday morning.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is calling on the Bloc Quebecois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.

Local Spotlight

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.

David Krumholtz, known for roles like Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause and physicist Isidor Rabi in Oppenheimer, has spent the latter part of his summer filming horror flick Altar in Winnipeg. He says Winnipeg is the most movie-savvy town he's ever been in.

Edmontonians can count themselves lucky to ever see one tiger salamander, let alone the thousands one local woman says recently descended on her childhood home.

A daytrip to the backcountry turned into a frightening experience for a Vancouver couple this weekend.

Stay Connected