Air Canada flights between Dubai and Toronto resumed on Tuesday (August 19) after the airline settled with its flight attendants’ union, ending a four-day strike that disrupted global travel.

The walkout, which began on August 16, forced the cancellation of thousands of flights during one of the busiest summer travel periods. More than 130,000 passengers per day were affected worldwide, including many in the UAE.

Gradual return of flights

Air Canada warned that full restoration of the global schedule will take seven to ten days. Only about 35 per cent of international flights are expected to operate on August 19, as aircraft and crew are repositioned.

The airline advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to rebook or request refunds if necessary. Emirates and Etihad services to Canada are continuing as scheduled.

Passenger options

Air Canada is offering affected travellers a full refund, free rebooking, or travel credit. Those with bookings between August 15 and 22 can change travel dates until September 30 at no additional cost. In some cases, the airline has pledged to cover reasonable expenses for passengers who had to make alternative arrangements on other carriers.

Apology to customers

Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s President and CEO, apologised for the disruption, saying the airline was “working as quickly as possible to return to normal.”

“Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding,” Rousseau said.

The airline stressed that restoring reliability and rebuilding customer confidence remain its priorities in the days ahead.