Air Canada Restores Flights, Offers Refunds and Rebooking

On August 19, 2025, Air Canada began restoring partial operations after a four-day strike by over 10,000 flight attendants ended with a tentative agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Approximately 155 flights took off that day from the airline’s key hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

The recovery is gradual, as aircraft and crews return from being grounded and maintenance checks are completed. The complete service restoration is expected within 7–10 days.

To restore traveler confidence, Air Canada rolled out a temporary exceptional policy to reimburse transportation costs incurred during the disruption.

For flights initially scheduled between August 15 and 22, customers may rebook without fees on Air Canada or Rouge flights between August 23 and September 30 in the same cabin. Travelers who opted for other carriers may also qualify for reimbursement of reasonable alternative fares.

During the strike, more than 3,100 flights were canceled, impacting over half a million travelers.

Photo by Michael on Unsplash