Air Canada has issued a lockout notice following stalled contract negotiations with flight attendants. The airline will begin cancelling Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights over the next three days and notifying customers of the changes.

Impacted travellers are strongly encouraged to visit the Air Canada information page on the strike action, which includes information on refunds and rescheduling flights. Air Canada has implemented its goodwill policy allowing for cancelling or rescheduling without additional fees. For additional information about refunds or other accommodations, travellers should contact Air Canada first.

Disputes over refunds and credits should be directed to Air Canada, your travel service provider, transportation carrier, or the Canadian Transportation Agency.

How does travel insurance apply in this situation?

Customers with travel insurance that includes benefits for trip cancellation, interruption, delay and missed connection may have coverage for prepaid travel expenses that are not refundable through Air Canada or other travel suppliers.

In this case, customers are encouraged to review their policy/certificate of insurance to confirm what benefits may be available (including checking whether strikes are listed as a covered reason.)

Please note that some travel insurance providers may indicate when the threat of the strike became a known event (i.e. when the threat of a strike was made public via major media outlets). Travel insurance policies purchased before this date may have coverage available, while policies purchased after this date may not.

Once impacted travellers have confirmed they have prepaid trip expenses that are not refundable from their airline or travel suppliers, and that their travel insurance policy has eligible benefits for trip cancellation, they are encouraged to contact their travel insurance provider to submit a claim.