Air Canada suspended all operations on Saturday morning after more than 10,000 on -board agents left the job for salary and planning disputes, which prompted the Canadian government to intervene.
The Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, ordered the Council of Industrial Relations of Canada to impose binding arbitration, extending the existing contract until a new agreement is concluded.
“This decision will help ensure that hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors from our country are not affected because of canceled flights,” Hajdu said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
The strike has already changed the travel plans in the world at the height of the summer season. Air Canada, the largest carrier of airlines and flags in the country, estimates that with its around 700 suspended daily flights, some 130,000 customers will be affected every day. The disengagement continues.
Hajdu warned that the strike could hit the Canadian economy hard, noting that Canada transports more than 40% of the country’s critical goods, including pharmaceutical products and organic tissues.
It is not known how long the strike will last or when an agreement could be concluded. Air Canada’s chief of Air Canada, Mark Nasr warned that even after an agreement, this could take up to a week to fully restart operations.
Wesley Lesosky, who heads the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, accused the government of rallying to the airline and undergoing workers’ rights.
A group of a few dozen demonstrators, who seemed to be affiliated with Cup, was sticking outside the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Saturday, depending on the video of the demonstrations.
“Say it strong, say it proud. Unpaid work is not allowed!” The demonstrators shouted.
Shelley Brown was blocked in New York after its Air Canada flight to Canada was canceled on Saturday. She called the “unhappy” timing during the tip of travel, but said that she sympathized with the on -board agents.
“I hope the two parties will come together very soon,” she told NBC News.
Air Canada urges clients affected not to get to the airport unless you have a confirmed ticket in a airline other than Air Canada or Red Air Canada. The flights operated by Air Canada Express Partners Jazz and Pal Airlines are not affected.
Passengers whose flights are canceled will be informed. Here is what travelers should know:
Request a refund or a credit
Customers who reserved an Air Canada flight at the latest on August 15 to travel on Saturday or Sunday can cancel for a full refund of the unused part of their ticket, regardless of the type of rate, via the website or mobile application of the company.
Travelers can also opt for a travel credit to use for a future air Canada reservation.
For other travel dates, reimbursable ticket holders can request a full refund at no cost. Non -refundable rates can be converted to credit for future trips.
Air Canada can fill your flight
If you give up a refund, Air Canada has said that it would try to rewrite you, including with other carriers.
But the airline – which serves more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and six continents – warned that the seats are extremely limited during the summer summer season.
“The capacity available on our airline and on other carriers is limited due to the peak in summer travel, which means that the possibility of straightening you in an acceptable time is low,” said Air Canada in a press release on Saturday.
Passengers can also straighten their flights for dates between August 21 and September 12 for no additional expense.
Impact on other airlines
Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance Network, which includes 26 member airlines such as United and Lufthansa. This means that travelers on partner airlines operating Air Canada flights may be affected.
United Airlines said in a statement that he “works with customers to bring them to their destinations and that swinging travel issued a derogation to ensure that they have the flexibility to manage their travel plans”.
Airport and agency response
The New York and New Jersey port authority said that it was “fully prepared to support travelers and minimize disturbances”.
“The airport staff will be on site to help passengers, and we are working closely with Air Canada and our terminal partners to ensure that the necessary resources are in place,” the agency said in a statement before the strike.
The port authority informed that travelers directly check their flight status with Air Canada before going to the airport and allow more time to travel.
The United States Ministry of Transport has not published an official declaration on Air Canada suspended operations and did not immediately return a request for comments.
