Air Canada has announced it will reimburse accommodation, meal and transportation expenses for travelers affected by the recent flight attendant strike. This new goodwill policy comes as the Canadian carrier works to return to normal service after a disruption that impacted hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Air Canada flight attendants began striking on Saturday, August 16, 2025, as part of a pay dispute. This labor action, which lasted nearly four days, resulted in hundreds of canceled flights and disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers. The dispute ended on Tuesday, August 19, when the airline and the union representing over 9,000 flight attendants reached a tentative agreement through government-mediated negotiations.
During the strike period, Air Canada was forced to operate at significantly reduced capacity, with reports indicating that the airline canceled approximately 75% of its flights, affecting approximately 400,000 passengers in total. The airline is now working to restore its full schedule, with operations expected to normalize by Friday, August 22.
In a significant improvement to its initial response, Air Canada has updated its goodwill policy to cover reasonable additional accommodation and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by customers as a result of the labor disruption. The policy applies to passengers whose original travel was scheduled between August 15 and August 23, 2025.
The updated policy builds on a flexible rebooking policy implemented earlier in the week that covered transport costs. Under the expanded policy, Air Canada will now reimburse:
Air Canada states that claims must be supported with receipts and submitted through the airline’s customer relations portal. Due to the anticipated volume of claims, the processing time may take up to four to six weeks.
Air Canada has accelerated its recovery efforts following the resolution of the strike. As of Thursday evening (August 21), the airline reported that 98% of domestic flights were operational, along with 99% of flights to and from the US and 96% of international routes.
The company expects to be “operating very close to our normal schedule” by Friday, August 22, ahead of its initial 7-10 day recovery estimate. Air Canada has shared the following operational statistics:
Affected passengers can submit claims through Air Canada’s customer relations portal. The airline has outlined specific criteria for reimbursement:
Additional information on the exceptional expense and transport policies is available at www.aircanada.com/action.
In addition to expense reimbursement, Air Canada’s flexible rebooking policy covers transportation expenses for passengers who made their own alternative arrangements. This applies to:
The airline specifies that customers must have booked “the most reasonable and economical option(s)” for their alternative travel, ensuring they reach their destination as soon as possible.
While operations are returning to normal, the labor dispute isn’t fully resolved yet. Union members will begin voting on the proposed deal next week, with voting expected to conclude by September 6, 2025. The details of the tentative agreement have not been publicly disclosed. Still, industry analysts suggest it likely addresses the key issues of compensation, work hours, and staffing levels that led to the strike.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents over 9,000 Air Canada flight attendants, has recommended that members accept the agreement, describing it as “the best deal possible under the circumstances.”
Air Canada’s expanded goodwill policy goes beyond what airlines typically offer during labor disruptions, which are often classified as “extraordinary circumstances” that limit carrier liability. The airline explicitly states that this special policy is “above legal obligations,” suggesting a strategic decision to prioritize customer relations and brand reputation over short-term financial considerations.
This approach recognizes the significant disruption faced by travelers during the peak summer season and attempts to rebuild trust with affected passengers. However, the financial impact on Air Canada could be substantial, with industry analysts estimating that the strike and subsequent compensation could cost the airline between $150-200 million in direct expenses and lost revenue.
For affected travelers, this policy represents a significant improvement over the initial response. However, the extended processing time for claims (up to six weeks) may create frustration for those waiting for substantial reimbursements.
Air Canada’s enhanced goodwill policy represents a meaningful effort to address the significant disruption caused by the flight attendant strike. By covering accommodation, meals, and transportation expenses, the airline is taking responsibility for the inconvenience faced by passengers, even though labor disputes are typically considered outside an airline’s control under passenger rights regulations.
While the processing of claims may take several weeks, affected passengers should ensure they submit all receipts for reasonable expenses through Air Canada’s customer relations portal. For travelers planning Air Canada flights in the coming days, operations are expected to be nearly back to normal by Friday, August 22. However, some residual disruptions may still occur as the system fully recovers.
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