Air Canada disputes a $426K CTA fine over rebooking issues during the 2025 flight attendant strike, citing efforts to support 200,000 passengers.
Air Canada Pushes Back Against Record CTA Fine
Air Canada is officially fighting a $426,000 penalty imposed by Canada’s airline regulator after the airline struggled to rebook passengers during a major labour disruption in August 2025. The airline calls the fine “unfounded” and plans to challenge it.
What Sparked the Fine?
Last summer, around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike after contract negotiations stalled. Ottawa ordered the workers back to work, but thousands of flights were still cancelled in the days following the walkout.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) investigated and concluded that Air Canada violated the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) multiple times between August 15 and 20, 2025. Their findings identified 71 specific violations, resulting in a $426,000 administrative monetary penalty—the largest of 37 similar cases the CTA tracked over the past year.
How Air Canada Responds
Air Canada says the fine is unrealistic given the circumstances. “The notice necessarily implies that airlines should be held to a standard which is impossible to achieve,” the company stated, noting it managed to rebook 200,000 passengers during the peak summer travel season.
The airline also highlighted the steps it voluntarily took to help customers and argued the regulator didn’t fully consider the real-world challenges during the disruption.
Expert Insight
Vincent Correia, co-director of McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law, says this case raises a common question about administrative penalties: how to enforce compliance without being excessively punitive. In this instance, the $426,000 fine translates to roughly $6,000 per violation.
What Happens Next
Air Canada has until April 18 to request a review before the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada (TATC). The tribunal has historically reduced or dismissed penalties against the airline, including a $110,000 fine in 2025 and a reduction of another in 2024.
The TATC has confirmed receipt of Air Canada’s request for review but has not yet scheduled a hearing.
Air Canada maintains it acted responsibly under challenging circumstances and is prepared to defend its actions before the tribunal.
