Air Canada imposes lockout of flight attendants in response to CUPE strike

Air Canada has locked out 10,000 flight attendants in response to CUPE commencing strike action.

The lockout took effect at 3 a.m. Newfoundland time on August 16, 2025. CUPE began strike action at 2:28 a.m. Newfoundland time.

On August 13th, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge served CUPE a statutory 72-hour lockout notice in response to the union’s own 72-hour strike notice.

The carriers have since been gradually reducing their schedules of about 700 daily flights to manage the labour disruption created by CUPE’s strike notice.