Air Canada has announced that its operations will begin to be affected today as tensions rise in an ongoing labor dispute with its pilots, potentially leading to a complete shutdown.
The airline has urged the government to prepare to intervene, warning that a shutdown could significantly disrupt travel for over 110,000 passengers daily. Services such as cargo and vacation packages are expected to feel the strain first, with the possibility of a full-scale shutdown looming on September 18.
Negotiations between the airline and the pilots’ union have become increasingly heated, with both sides pointing fingers. Air Canada claims the union’s wage demands are “unreasonable,” while the union accuses the airline of “corporate greed,” citing record profits alongside calls for pilots to accept below-market wages.
As early as Sunday, either side can issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout. Such a notice would set off a three-day countdown to a complete work stoppage, significantly impacting air travel across the country.