Home » Latest Travel News » Over 35 Flights Were Cancelled Across Canada Including Air Canada, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, United, Singapore, and Thai Airways in Toronto, Montreal and More: Due to the Surging Strikes?

Published on
August 11, 2025 |

Despite Air Canada’s continuous vouch that their flights will operate on time. Yet over 35 flights were cancelled across Canada, maybe due to the ongoing strikes. While other airlines including Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, United, Singapore, and Thai Airways were cancelled maybe due to operational and other issues. The disruptions impacted key cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and more. In 2025, over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants represented by CUPE have overwhelmingly approved a 99.7 percent strike mandate, giving the union the ability to issue a 72-hour strike notice as soon as August 16 if negotiations fail. Talks between Air Canada and the union have resumed under pressure, with both sides expressing a preference for reaching a fair agreement to avoid disruption. In the meantime, CUPE has organized coordinated “Day of Action” demonstrations at major Canadian airports—including Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver—to highlight concerns over wages, compensation for unpaid work, and overall working conditions; these protests are not strikes and are not expected to affect flight schedules. Air Canada has warned that a full strike could result in economic losses of up to $1.4 billion, a prospect that has already contributed to a 14 percent drop in the airline’s stock over the past month, though flights continue to operate normally and passengers will be notified of any changes if job action begins after August 16.FlightScheduled Departure (Local)Destination (City & Airport Code)Terminal/GateStatusAC 10109:00 (EDT)Vancouver (YVR) – from Toronto PearsonTerminal 1CancelledAC 87418:30 (EDT)Frankfurt (FRA) – from Montréal–TrudeauMain TerminalCancelledAC 14613:00 (MDT)Toronto (YYZ) – from Calgary IntlMain TerminalCancelledAC 77509:10 (EDT)Los Angeles (LAX) – from Montréal–TrudeauMain TerminalCancelledAC 195820:40 (EDT)Québec City (YQB) – from Toronto PearsonTerminal 1Cancelled

Each of the above flights was listed by Air Canada or flight tracking sources as canceled on August 11, 2025. For example, Air Canada’s Toronto–Vancouver route saw cancellations around that date, and domestic connections like Toronto–Québec City were also cancelled during this period. International services were affected as well – Air Canada cancelled long-haul flights such as Montréal–Frankfurt and Montréal–Los Angeles on that day. In addition, a Calgary–Toronto flight (destination Toronto Pearson) was cancelled amid these disruptions.

Toronto Pearson

ArrivalsTimeStatusCityAirlineFlight #Terminal06:58CancelledQuebec (QC), CANAir CanadaAC1951T106:58CancelledQuebec (QC), CANCathay PacificCX1633T106:58CancelledQuebec (QC), CANUnited AirlinesUA8445T106:58CancelledQuebec (QC), CANAvianca AirlinesAV6949T109:04CancelledNew York (La Guardia), USAAir Canada JazzAC8983T111:01CancelledCincinnati, USAAir Canada JazzAC8704T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEUAir CanadaAC841T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEULufthansaLH6676T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEUUnited AirlinesUA8591T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEUSingapore AirlinesSQ1017T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEUThai Airways InternationalTG5816T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEUAustrian AirlinesOS8281T112:35CancelledFrankfurt am Main, DEUSriLankan AirlinesUL2841T113:55CancelledCharlottetown (PE), CANAir CanadaAC1543T113:55CancelledCharlottetown (PE), CANUnited AirlinesUA8699T1CancelledGander (NL), CANAir CanadaAC1557T119:41CancelledSaint John (NB), CANAir CanadaAC1535T119:41CancelledSaint John (NB), CANUnited AirlinesUA8149T1

Departures

TimeStatusDestinationAirlineFlight #AisleCheck-in CounterTerminal08:20CancelledCharlottetown (PE), CANAir CanadaAC1540T108:20CancelledCharlottetown (PE), CANUnited AirlinesUA8299T109:30CancelledGander (NL), CANAir CanadaAC15562T114:50CancelledSaint John (NB), CANAir CanadaAC1532T114:50CancelledSaint John (NB), CANEmiratesEK5767T114:50CancelledSaint John (NB), CANUnited AirlinesUA8291T119:30CancelledVancouver (BC), CANAir CanadaAC1272T119:30CancelledVancouver (BC), CANAer LingusEI86332T119:30CancelledVancouver (BC), CANVirgin AustraliaVA51992T119:30CancelledVancouver (BC), CANLOT Polish AirlinesLO41032T1Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

ArrivalsTimeAirlineFlight #DestinationStatusGate07:10Air CanadaAC316Calgary (YYC)Cancelled5208:45Air CanadaAC8004Ottawa (YOW)Cancelled3210:30Air CanadaAC2129Porto (OPO)Cancelled5814:25Air CanadaAC994Mexico/Mexico City (MEX)Cancelled7716:20Air CanadaAC774Los Angeles (LAX)Cancelled6416:30Air CanadaAC99Bogota (BOG)Cancelled60CategoryCurrent StatusKey DetailsStrike Authorization99.7% mandate approved; strike possible after August 16CUPE represents 10,000+ flight attendants; 72-hour notice requiredNegotiationsUnderway and intense; both sides prefer resolutionTalks resumed last Friday; aim to avoid disruptionProtestsPlanned demonstrations at major airports (non-disruptive)Airports include Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, VancouverFinancial RisksUp to $1.4 billion loss; stock drop around 14%Potential significant impact on airline valuationTravel ImpactFlights are operating normally; passengers will be notifiedEarliest strike action possible after August 16

What Happened

That day, flight attendants across multiple major airports, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary, organized coordinated demonstrations. These actions were part of ongoing contract negotiations, with the union seeking pay for all hours worked, including pre-flight duties, boarding, and deplaning, as well as better overall working conditions. While the airline had not scheduled a large-scale operational halt, the demonstrations created significant strain on operations and increased the likelihood of delays or cancellations.

Even small disruptions at these busy hubs can have a domino effect across the network. With these being key transfer points in Air Canada’s route system, the potential for cascading delays and cancellations was high, which is exactly what occurred.

The Affected Route Examples

Flights that were cancelled on August 11 included both domestic and long-haul routes:

AC 101 – Toronto to VancouverAC 146 – Calgary to TorontoAC 775 – Montréal to Los AngelesAC 874 – Montréal to FrankfurtAC 1958 – Toronto to Québec City

The list shows the widespread nature of the cancellations, affecting travelers across Canada, into the United States, and overseas to Europe and South America.

Traveler Rights & What to Do

Canadian air travel rules require airlines to assist passengers whose flights are cancelled for reasons within the airline’s control. If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to:

Rebooking on the next available flight, even with another airline, within a reasonable time frame.Meals, hotel accommodations, and compensation based on the length of the delay.A refund if you choose not to continue your trip.

For international flights, travelers may have additional rights under global air travel agreements. Labour disputes are generally considered within the airline’s control, meaning compensation is more likely to apply.

What Travelers Should Do NowCheck flight status before traveling to the airport using the airline’s app, website, or phone service.Arrive early at the airport to account for possible longer waits and slower service.Bring essentials such as snacks, water, chargers, and any needed medication.Watch for notifications from the airline via email or text, as they must inform you of any cancellations.Keep receipts for any extra expenses you incur so you can request reimbursement later.Consider refundable tickets when there’s a chance of changes, so you can adjust plans without penalty.