The Canadian government intervened to end the strike by Air Canada cabin crew members, which led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and caused chaos for the summer travel of the airline’s 130,000 daily passengers, AFP reported.

Canada’s largest airline, which flies directly to 180 cities worldwide, halted all operations after approximately 10,000 flight attendants went on strike over a pay dispute shortly after midnight on August 16.

Several hours later, Canadian Labor Minister Patty Hajdu invoked a legal provision that will end the strike and compel both parties to submit to mandatory arbitration.

“This is not a decision I made lightly. The potential immediate negative impact on Canadians and our economy is simply too great,” Hajdu told reporters.

She added, however, that it may take five to ten days for Air Canada to restore regular services following the disruption.

Earlier, the airline urged its customers not to go to the airport if they held a ticket for Air Canada or its lower-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge.

It stated that Air Canada Express flights, which are operated by a third party, would not be affected by the strike.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the workers, said its members would continue the strike until the government officially issued an order to return to work.

In a separate statement, CUPE criticized the Canadian government’s intervention as “a reward for Air Canada’s refusal to negotiate fairly, giving them exactly what they wanted.”

“This sets a terrible precedent,” the union added. “It will only worsen unresolved issues, postponing them for later.”

Canada’s economy, while showing resilience, has begun to feel the effects of the trade war imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tariffs impact key sectors such as automotive, aluminum, and steel industries.

In a statement issued before the strike began, the Business Council of Canada warned that the Air Canada work stoppage could cause further difficulties.

“At a time when Canada is facing unprecedented pressure on critical economic supply chains, the disruption of national air passenger and cargo services would cause immediate and significant harm to all Canadians,” the statement said. | BGNES