More flights cancelled as Air Canada strike drags on

Both Regina and Saskatoon airports saw Air Canada desks quieter than usual, as red cancellation declarations glowed on their departure and arrival boards.

The cancellations to Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights meant many Saskatchewan travellers were forced to stay home, while others had to re-book their flights.

It comes after Air Canada said the Canada Industrial Relations Board declared the strike by the company’s 10,000 flight attendants illegal, and ordered the union’s leadership to direct its members to return to work on Monday morning.

However, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the flight attendants, said “there’s no limit” to what it will do to get a good deal for its members.

Air Canada says its flight attendants need to return to work before the airline can push on with negotiations, even as the union says it won’t end its now unlawful strike until a deal is reached at the bargaining table.

“We’re available and ready to work on an industry leading deal for our flight attendants, making them the best compensated in Canada, but we can’t do that while the planes are grounded,” said Air Canada chief operating officer Mark Nasr in an interview Monday evening.

Air Canada earlier Monday extended a cancellation of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights through 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Read more: 

• Air Canada cancellations begin at YQR, more expected, CEO says
• Labour groups push back as Air Canada strike poised to continue
• Here’s the latest in the labour dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants

Only those flying on Air Canada Express flights were able to depart on Monday because its workers are represented by a different union.

Passenger line-ups at the Air Canada desk at Saskatoon’s airport were quieter than usual on Monday. (Shane Clausing/ 650 CKOM)

Herman Krebs travelled to Saskatoon from Germany with his brother and felt panicked that his flight to Montreal might be cancelled.

“He was afraid it would be cancelled,” said Krebs. “He bought another flight and now it’s not cancelled, he has to pay twice.”

Mark Emond was travelling back to Montreal after enjoying the Rock the River music festival in Saskatoon.

He was relieved to get an email telling him his flight would go ahead.

“I understand what’s going on with the stewardesses and stuff – they need to be paid for what they’re working and that’s not happening,” Emond said. “I also understand the government ordering them back to work – you can’t strand 130,000 people every day.

“Hopefully they can get something taken care of really soon, because we all lose when they’re on strike.”

Maryse Carmichael was flying from Regina to Montreal on a family vacation. Her flights were rerouted a couple of times, but she felt lucky she did not experience extreme delays.

“I think it’s a very confusing situation,” Carmichael said. “Air Canada and CUPE had a year to negotiate. They didn’t come to an agreement. At some point, someone needs to make a decision on what goes forward … I feel for the people that are impacted.”

Union representing flight attendants says unpaid work won’t fly

Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan, said he was disappointed and shocked that Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants were sanctioned back to work by the federal government.

CUPE Saskatchewan is the union that represents workers’ rights in Saskatchewan.

“We’ve had snowstorms that have shut down Air Canada longer than these folks have been allowed to exercise their constitutional right to strike,” he said. “It’s extremely disappointing that the federal Liberal government would do that.”

Peterson said flight attendants do about 35 hours of unpaid work each month.

He said flight attendants are only paid once boarding is complete, checks are done and the airplane door closes. Staff aren’t paid to handle delays, he said, which is frustrating for them and passengers.

Peterson said flight attendants will not return to work, despite the Canada Industrial Relations Board imposing binding arbitration and declaring flight attendants’ job action illegal.

“We’re striking. We’re still on the line,” he said. “Air Canada will not fly a plane in this country until they get a good deal with their flight attendants.”

CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson calls on Liberal Secretary of State Buckley Belanger to respect the right to strike. pic.twitter.com/kepuXBIAaD

— CUPE Saskatchewan (@CUPEsask) August 18, 2025

Regina Airport CEO calling in extra help for passengers

Regina Airport Authority President and CEO James Bogusz has shored up staffing to help guests with Air Canada cancellations or delays.

“The latest here in Regina is lots of disruption,” he said. “(There are) hundreds of people put out per day who cannot depart on an Air Canada aircraft.”

Bogusz said three flights a day that go to Toronto have been cancelled, and one flight to Vancouver has been cancelled due to the strike.

Air Canada Jazz is still departing from the airport. It is not being affected by the strike.

“Looking ahead at (Air Canada’s) schedule, we’re noticing that they’re not even selling any Toronto service until Saturday of next week,” he said. “It’s almost about five business days away.”

Air Canada has told passengers to stay home until they are able to be booked into another flight.

With Air Canada flight attendants refusing to go back to work, Bogusz said staff are taking the situation one day at a time.

“This is a very fluid situation, and as it sits right now, there is currently no end in sight other than what we’re seeing here at Regina,” he said.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing and The Canadian Press