Air Canada Ramps Up Flights After Major Flight Attendants Strike

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, ending a three-day strike by over 10,000 flight attendants and allowing the airline to resume operations. Despite the resolution, Air Canada warns that a return to full service will take seven to ten days due to logistical challenges, including repositioning aircraft and crew, and some flight cancellations will continue during this period. The strike caused severe disruptions across Canada, with more than 730 flights canceled daily during the peak of the walkout, stranding thousands of passengers and severely impacting air traffic. The union's defiance of a government back-to-work order, which led to the strike being declared illegal, has sparked debate about the effectiveness of such orders in essential industries going forward. Meanwhile, Air Canada is focusing initially on ramping up outbound international flights as part of its operational restart. Additionally, China Southern Airlines is expanding China-Canada air connectivity by resuming twice-weekly nonstop flights between Guangzhou and Vancouver, joining other airlines in increasing service on this route amid broader China-Canada flight expansions.