Air Canada flight attendant strike: How many SFO flights were affected

(SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA) Air Canada’s system-wide disruption hit Bay Area travelers Saturday as a flight attendant strike led by CUPE and a company lockout forced mass cancellations, including most service at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The work stoppage began at 01:00 ET on August 16, 2025, followed by a lockout at 1:30 a.m. ET, affecting 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. The airline had already been cutting its schedule ahead of the strike, which normally totals about 700 daily flights across the network.

Air Canada says about 130,000 customers are affected daily by the suspension. While the carrier has not released a SFO-specific tally, it has advised customers not to go to the airport unless they hold a confirmed booking on another airline. That guidance signals that most, if not all, Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights to and from San Francisco are cancelled or severely disrupted during the initial strike period of August 16–19, 2025.

Air Canada Express flights, which are operated by Jazz and PAL airlines, are not part of the dispute and continue to run. Still, available seats are tight during peak summer travel. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the timing makes rebooking harder because other carriers are already full on many routes, and spare capacity is limited across North America.

Impact at SFO and Across the Network

Travelers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) faced widespread cancellations on Saturday, with disruptions expected to extend through the first strike window. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge had been trimming schedules all week in anticipation of labour action after both sides served statutory 72-hour notices.

The lockout that followed the strike start deepened the shutdown across North America, with ripple effects on connections and return trips. Air Canada’s statement expressed regret for the disruption and said the company remains committed to reaching a renewal of its collective agreement with CUPE.

The union, which represents the affected 10,000 flight attendants, initiated strike action just before 1 a.m. Eastern Time, citing failed talks. No immediate resolution has been announced as of August 16, 2025. The airline’s guidance to avoid the airport without a confirmed booking on another carrier remains in place for SFO and other hubs.

For SFO travelers, the practical effect is blunt: very few same-day options exist on Air Canada metal. The airline says it will try to rebook customers on its own flights or on partner and other carriers when space allows, but capacity is limited during summer. That means many passengers will need to:

• Push trips to later dates
• Request refunds
• Seek alternative flights on other carriers

Air Canada Express flights offer some alternatives on select routes, yet they do not match the scale of mainline and Rouge operations.

What Passengers Can Do Now

Air Canada has outlined several temporary policies for trips hit by the flight attendant strike:

• If you booked travel between August 15 and August 19, 2025, you can change your flight for free to dates between August 21 and September 12, 2025, provided your ticket was purchased or points redeemed by August 14, 2025.
• Non-refundable fares can be cancelled for a credit in your AC Wallet or as a Future Travel Credit.
• Full refunds are available for unused portions of tickets purchased on or before August 15, 2025, for travel between August 16 and August 17, 2025.
• If your flight is cancelled, Air Canada will attempt to rebook you, including on other airlines, but space is limited due to summer demand.
• Expect longer wait times at contact centers.

The fastest ways to act:

1. Use the “My Bookings” tools on Air Canada’s website to change or cancel your ticket.
2. Visit the airline’s travel updates page for live guidance and links to self-serve options: https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2025/ac-action.html
3. If you booked through Air Canada Vacations, contact that division directly.

Customer service contacts:
– Media team: [email protected]
– General help: available through aircanada.com

Because the airline has warned customers not to go to the airport without a confirmed seat on another carrier, SFO passengers should:

• Check flight status repeatedly before leaving home
• Monitor email and text alerts for involuntary rebooking
• Consider checking availability on other airlines if the trip cannot wait
• If you buy another ticket, process any Air Canada refund or credit promptly to avoid duplicate travel and to free up seats for others

For general U.S. consumer rules on airline delays and cancellations, review the Department of Transportation’s guidance here: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/flight-delays-cancellations. This official page explains passengers’ rights when flights are cancelled or delayed in the United States and can help you compare options as you work through Air Canada’s policies.

Labor Standoff and Next Steps

The strike and lockout follow a week of rising tension. After CUPE issued a strike notice, Air Canada began gradually reducing flying to manage the expected disruption. When the strike commenced at 01:00 ET on August 16, the company responded with a lockout about 30 minutes later, freezing operations for mainline and Rouge cabin crews.

Industry observers say the summer peak multiplies the effect, causing “widespread cancellations across North America,” including at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Both CUPE and Air Canada say they remain in talks, but there is no timeline for a deal.

Key dates and operational notes:

• Strike start: 01:00 ET on August 16, 2025
• Lockout: ~1:30 a.m. ET on August 16, 2025
• Initial strike window with major disruption: August 16–19, 2025
• Recommended rebooking earliest date: August 21, 2025
• Free-change window ends: September 12, 2025

Processing times for refunds and credits may stretch due to high volumes. Air Canada Express flights remain a narrow bright spot because Jazz and PAL crews are not part of CUPE’s action and continue to operate. However, those flights do not replace the scale of the mainline and Rouge schedules.

With about 700 daily flights normally operating across the system, even a partial shutdown strands a large share of travelers. The airline’s figure of 130,000 affected customers per day underlines just how wide the impact has become for passengers in Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸. Further updates are expected in the coming days as talks continue.

Important takeaway: Do not go to the airport for Air Canada/ Rouge flights unless you have a confirmed booking on another carrier. Use online self-serve options first, monitor communications closely, and consider rebooking for travel on or after August 21, 2025.