4 days ago
Swift News
Air Canada says it will begin cancelling flights on Thursday ahead of a potential strike that could see more than 10,000 flight attendants walk off the job this weekend.
The country's largest airline said the gradual suspension of flights — which would lead to more cancellations on Friday, before a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend — would allow for an orderly shutdown.
About 130,000 customers a day could be affected by a disruption, according to Air Canada.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave the carrier a requisite 72-hour strike notice overnight after the two sides reached an "impasse" in negotiations on Tuesday.
Air Canada flight attendants can walk off the job as early as Saturday at 12:58 a.m. ET.
CUPE representatives say that in response to their strike action, Air Canada has issued a notice of lockout starting at 1:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. Air Canada confirmed the lockout in a press release on Wednesday morning.
"We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve," Air
Canada chief executive Michael Rousseau said in a statement.
