Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is warning Air Canada passengers to double-check their flight status as a looming strike by the airline’s flight attendants threatens to ground operations starting tonight.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike notice on Aug. 13.
If no agreement is reached, workers could walk off the job at 9:58 p.m. Friday (Aug. 15), triggering widespread cancellations.
The union is pushing for wage increases that match inflation and 'the end of unpaid work'.
Air Canada began winding down operations Thursday in anticipation of the strike.
Although Victoria International Airport's departures and arrivals board doesn't currently show many delays or cancellations yet, travellers with connecting flights in Vancouver and other cities could see the impacts of the looming strike today and over the weekend.
Connections starting in Victoria and heading to Toronto via Vancouver, including flights AC 186 and AC 124, were cancelled Friday due to the labour dispute. Another route, AC 8168 from Victoria to Vancouver connecting to Calgary (AC 228), was also scrubbed.
Air Canada says disruptions could affect about 130,000 customers per day and potentially leave travellers stranded abroad.
Even passengers not bound for Toronto or Calgary are being urged to confirm itineraries.
"Due to the Air Canada flight attendant labour dispute, flights may be delayed or cancelled," reads the advisory on YYJ’s website. "Air Canada strongly advises customers to not go to the airport unless they have a confirmed reservation and their flights are listed. Please check the status of your flight before heading to the airport."
Air Canada has outlined options for customers affected by cancellations between Aug. 15 and Aug. 18. Travellers can change flights for free if they purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed Aeroplan points no later than Aug. 14.
Free rebooking is available for travel on Aug. 15, or any date between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12. Changes can be made through the “manage my booking” feature on Air Canada’s website. Travellers may also choose a refund for disrupted travel.
Labour dispute updates
On Thursday, Air Canada released details of its latest offer to CUPE, calling it “industry-leading” and without concessions.
The outlined proposal includes a 38 per cent pay increase over four years, with first-year hourly wage hikes of 12 to 16 per cent. Hourly rates would top out at $94, and senior flight attendants would average $87,000 annually by 2027, with 20 per cent earning $90,000 or more.
CUPE has compared the offer to the contract pilots received last year, noting that pilots were given a 26 per cent wage increase in the first year.
“Air Canada’s male-dominated workforce received a significant cost-of-living wage increase. Why not the flight attendants, who are 70 per cent women?” said Natasha Stea, president of CUPE 4091.
If no last-minute deal is reached, more than 10,000 flight attendants will be off the job before midnight.
