Photo Gallery: Air Canada flight attendants defy back-to-work order

By Canadian Press on August 17, 2025.

Air Canada says it is cancelling hundreds of additional flights on Sunday after the union representing its flight attendants announced the workers would remain on strike in defiance of a back-to-work order.

The federal government said Saturday that it was ordering the airline and its flight attendants back to work, ending a strike and lockout after less than 12 hours.

“Our members are not going back to work,” CUPE National president Mark Hancock said outside the Toronto Airport. “We are saying no.”

Air Canada had planned to resume flights Sunday after the federal government stepped in and ordered binding arbitration.

The airline said more than 700 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights had been cancelled during the work stoppage as of Saturday. The strike has left thousands of passengers stranded or struggling to find ways to reach their destinations.

Here are some scenes from airports across the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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