Air Canada Faces Potential Strike and Flight Suspensions Amid Declining US Traffic

Air Canada is facing significant challenges with a potential strike by its flight attendants set for Thursday, amid declining passenger numbers on routes to and from the United States. As a result, the airline has announced the suspension of flights and issued a lockout notice to manage an orderly shutdown process.

Flights operated by Air Canada and its subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, will be gradually suspended over the next 72 hours. Affected customers will receive information on obtaining refunds, and those without confirmed flights are advised not to go to the airport. The airline operates daily flights between Las Vegas and cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, competing with Westjet and Porter Airlines on these routes.

The decline in passenger traffic is reflected in the 11.9 percent drop in the number of passengers carried to and from Reid International in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, negotiations between Air Canada management and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 10,000 flight attendants, have been ongoing for eight months without reaching a new contract. The airline is seeking government-directed arbitration to help resolve the dispute.