UPDATE, August 16, 2025: On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Air Canada suspended operations after more than 10,000 flight attendants went on strike following failed contract negotiations with their union. All Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights have been cancelled or are in the process of being cancelled, while Air Canada Express flights, operated by third-party carriers, continue as scheduled. For passengers whose flights remain unaffected, the airline has introduced a “goodwill policy” that allows them to rebook or opt for a travel credit.
Following a change to Aeroplan re: how members earn points and elite status, Air Canada is cancelling flights as flight attendants are poised to walk off the job.
As of 12 p.m. on August 15, 2025, a total of 294 flights have been cancelled and 55,726 people impacted due to the impending strike.
Air Canada has stated that customers whose flights are cancelled can choose between a full refund, to change their travel plans without a fee.
According to a report by CTV News, passenger rights expert Gabor Lukacs advises that travelers whose Air Canada flights are cancelled should not accept a refund, as doing so could let the airline avoid its obligation to rebook passengers on another flight.
What am I entitled to if my flight is cancelled?
According to Lukacs, under the Canadian Transportation Agency’s regulations, the airline is required to cover the cost of a new ticket on another airline for passengers with already booked and paid tickets.
Even during a strike, classified as outside an airline’s control, Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations require carriers to provide a new reservation on the next available flight, including flights operated by competing airlines, to get passengers to their final destination.
Air Canada’s offer of a refund could leave customers paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars more for replacement travel.
Ticket prices are rising sharply ahead of the weekend, with a roundtrip from Toronto to Vancouver on Aug. 15–22 offered by Flair Airlines for about $1,300, compared with as little as $273 for the same route in early September.
Lukacs notes that last-minute pricing and sudden spikes in demand are driving these high fares. He emphasizes that if a cancelled flight could be replaced with a more expensive competitor flight that gets passengers home sooner, the airline is obligated to provide that option.
Passengers who purchase a replacement ticket on a competing airline because Air Canada refuses to rebook can submit the bill to Air Canada for reimbursement.
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