TORONTO/MONTREAL — Thousands of passengers faced another day of travel chaos on Monday, August 18, 2025, as Air Canada AC.TO -3.85% ▼‘s 10,000 flight attendants continued their strike, defying a Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) order to return to work. The ongoing labor dispute, now in its third day, has led to the cancellation of approximately 500,000 passengers’ flights, leaving travelers stranded across Canada and beyond during the peak summer travel season.
Among those affected are John and Lois Alderman, a British couple stranded in Toronto with their two teenage children. “I’m a diabetic and I’m going to run out of insulin in about four days,” John told reporters at Pearson International Airport. “That’s going to cause a problem.” The family, facing a four-to-five-day wait for a flight back to Manchester, U.K., feels like “prisoners in the hotel,” hesitant to explore the city due to the risk of missing a last-minute flight notification. The Aldermans are paying $700 per night for accommodations, with alternative flights on competitor airlines costing upwards of $8,000 for the family of four.
Similarly, Beverley and Martin Newstead, also U.K. residents, saw their Toronto flight canceled and are now grappling with an indefinite extension of their vacation. “It’s not ideal,” Martin said. “It is nice in Canada, but we’ve been here for two weeks and a bit and are running out of clothes to wear.” In Montreal, Luca Pozzoli, attempting to reach Milan, Italy, found his flight canceled and is now considering driving to Boston to catch a flight. “Everything is fully booked,” he said, highlighting the scarcity of alternatives.
The disruptions have sparked frustration, with passengers like Sandra Major, a Bahamian grandmother visiting Canada, receiving little support. After her 2:45 p.m. flight was canceled, Major told The Canadian Press, “I came down here for some assistance to see if they could transfer me on another flight, and they said they can’t help because they’re all shut down.” The lack of immediate options has left travelers feeling abandoned, with Air Canada offering rebookings on competitor airlines but no compensation for hotels, meals, or transportation.
Union Defies CIRB, Talks Stalled
The strike, initiated by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Saturday, August 16, centers on demands for higher wages and compensation for unpaid ground work, such as boarding and safety checks. The CIRB declared the strike unlawful on Monday, with vice chairperson Jennifer Webster ordering, “The members of the union’s bargaining unit are directed to resume the performance of their duties immediately and to refrain from engaging in unlawful strike activities.” The order followed federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu’s invocation of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, directing the dispute to binding arbitration.
CUPE, however, has defied the CIRB’s order and challenged it in Federal Court, arguing it violates workers’ constitutional rights. Union president Mark Hancock stated, “If Air Canada thinks planes will be flying this afternoon, they’re sorely mistaken,” signaling an intent to continue the strike until negotiations address their demands. Air Canada, which planned to resume flights on Sunday, was forced to delay operations, exacerbating the travel disruptions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disappointment over the failure of Air Canada and CUPE to reach an agreement after eight months of negotiations. “It’s critical that both sides quickly resolve the situation causing chaos for travellers,” Carney said, acknowledging the “critical role that flight attendants play in keeping Canadians and their families safe as they travel” and emphasizing the need for equitable compensation.
Passenger Sympathy Amid Frustration
Despite the chaos, some passengers voiced support for the striking flight attendants. Lisa Smith, stranded in Montreal with her sister Nicole Power, told The Canadian Press, “I think that’s important. If you’re here to do your job and you’ve already started to do your job, then you should get paid for it.” The sisters, who were visiting San Francisco, were initially assured their return to Newfoundland would proceed but learned on Sunday that their flight was canceled. Rebooked on a competitor airline, they face a wait until Wednesday, with no compensation for accommodations or meals.
Air Canada, a key member of the Star Alliance, typically serves 130,000 passengers daily. The prolonged strike has drawn attention from other labor groups, with the Canadian Labour Congress and Air Canada’s pilot union expressing solidarity. The dispute’s resolution remains uncertain as CUPE challenges the CIRB order and negotiations remain stalled, leaving travelers like the Aldermans, Newsteads, and Major to navigate mounting costs and uncertainty.