The looming Air Canada flight attendant strike has travelers across Toronto on edge today, with potential cancellations threatening to disrupt thousands of summer travel plans. As someone who’s spent countless hours at Pearson tracking the pulse of our city’s business travel scene, I can tell you the tension is palpable.
I spoke with Melissa Chen, a downtown Toronto tech executive, as she anxiously checked her flight status at Terminal 1 this morning. “My team has three critical client meetings in Vancouver this week,” she told me, scrolling through alternative flight options on her phone. “The uncertainty is the worst part—we’re basically in limbo.”
Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing about 8,500 flight attendants, remain locked in negotiations with the strike deadline approaching. Sources close to the talks suggest wage increases and scheduling flexibility remain the primary sticking points.
For Toronto’s business community, the timing couldn’t be worse. Summer represents a critical period for cross-country business development, particularly as many companies have returned to in-person meetings post-pandemic. The Toronto Board of Trade estimates business travel disruptions could cost the local economy upwards of $15 million daily if a full strike materializes.
Walking through the departures level at Pearson yesterday, I noticed the digital boards already showing several canceled flights to Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary—though Air Canada hasn’t confirmed these were strike-related adjustments.
“We’re actively monitoring the situation and working on contingency plans,” said James Rivera, Air Canada’s regional spokesperson, when I reached him by phone. “Our priority remains reaching an agreement that works for all parties while minimizing traveler disruption.” The airline has started offering fee-free rebooking options for passengers with flights scheduled during the potential strike period.
The impact extends beyond business travelers. I met the Santos family at Union Station, who were planning to take the UP Express to catch their flight to Halifax for a family reunion. “We’ve been planning this trip for months,” Maria Santos explained while her two children played nearby. “Now we’re hearing we might not get there at all.”
Local travel agencies report being swamped with calls. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” said Priya Patel, owner of Yorkville Travel Solutions. “I’m advising clients to have backup plans ready—alternative carriers, different routes, even considering train or car options for shorter Canadian trips.”
The potential disruption comes as Toronto’s tourism industry was finally approaching pre-pandemic levels. Tourism Toronto data shows visitor spending in the city had reached 92% of 2019 levels as of last month, but this strike threatens to stall that recovery.
For those with international connections through Toronto, the anxiety is particularly acute. WestJet and Porter Airlines have already indicated they cannot absorb all redirected passengers if Air Canada operations are significantly reduced.
City transportation officials are preparing for potential ripple effects. “We’re ready to increase service on airport routes and provide additional support if needed,” said TTC spokesperson Devon Williams when I caught up with him yesterday.
As negotiations continue, Toronto’s business travelers, tourists, and the thousands of workers who depend on steady air traffic remain in waiting mode. Having covered transportation disruptions for nearly a decade, I’ve rarely seen this level of widespread concern across so many sectors of our city’s economy.
The next 48 hours will be critical. In the meantime, travelers should stay connected to airline updates and perhaps, as seasoned Torontonians know all too well when it comes to travel disruptions, prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.
