News / Air Canada cargo flights still suspended as union defies return to work order

Air Canada Cargo Boeing 767-300 freighter. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

Air cargo operations are still turbulent in Canada, despite intervention from the government. 

Air Canada’s operations were suspended on 16 August after a strike by flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) was announced and those staff being subsequently locked out by the airline.  

Some 700 Air Canada flight cancellations occurred over the weekend. 

The Loadstar reported that as the majority of Air Canada’s transported cargo is carried in bellyhold, a significant portion of Canadian air freight imports and exports would be at risk. According to sources, an average 24-hour window sees the carrier move approximately 2,000 tonnes across bellyhold and full-freighter capacity.   

Yesterday, however, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) directed Air Canada to resume operations and for all its flight attendants to resume their duties, deeming the strike unlawful. 

The CIRB also ordered that the collective agreement between Air Canada and CUPE that expired on 31 March be extended until a new collective agreement comes into effect.  

This may be soon, as the CIRB issued final binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding terms of the agreement, set to be addressed “in the coming days and weeks”. 

And while Air Canada did plan to resume flights, CUPE directed its flight attendant members to defy the ‘return to work’ order from the CIRB. 

The carrier said: “Air Canada’s intended restart of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, which have been grounded since 16 August by CUPE’s labour disruption, was prevented on 17 August by the CUPE leadership’s unlawful strike activities.”

The airline also announced that, due to the effects of the labour disruption and resulting suspension in flights, the guidance for its third quarter and full-year 2025 operating results announced on 28 July has been suspended.