Metro Vancouver travellers who have flights booked with Air Canada should check the status of their flights online before heading to the airport.
Air Canada has begun cancelling dozens of flights ahead of potential labour action following the 72-hour strike notice issued by the union representing around 10,000 of its flight attendants, the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
The airline has also filed a 72-hour lockout notice to its employees. If an agreement is not reached, a full disruption of Air Canada service could begin at 9:58 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15 (Vancouver time).
According to FlightAware, an online flight tracking software, as of late Thursday morning, a total of 12 flights have been cancelled from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) over the past 24 hours. However, this figure could change dramatically over the coming days, as Air Canada has started cancelling flights to international destinations.
Long-haul flights to India are among the first cancellations from major Canadian airports like Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL)
Air Canada operates in 65 countries globally and plans for a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge on Aug. 16 if a deal isn't reached.
Air Canada cancelled flights list: What to know at YVR
According to FlightAware, Air Canada cancelled an early flight from Toronto to Vancouver and another departing from Vancouver to Edmonton. Two additional flights departing from Vancouver in the afternoon to Montreal and Toronto have also been cancelled.
However, the online flight tracker doesn't provide reasons for the cancellations. Air Canada said it would commence the strike-related cancellations, primarily with international departures, departing on Thursday evening.
Air Canada has cancelled a flight departing from Vancouver to Sydney, Australia at 10:50 p.m. on Thursday, according to YVR online departures page.
Similarly, flights departing Vancouver in the wee hours of Friday morning, including one to Singapore at 12:35 a.m. and one to Manila at 2:05 a.m., have also been preemptively cancelled.
Air Canada has also cancelled return flights to Vancouver from international destinations. Flights scheduled to return to YVR on Saturday from Sydney, Singapore, and Manila are already cancelled.
A flight from Vancouver to Toronto departing on Saturday morning is cancelled, too.
YVR provides an update
YVR reminds passengers that Air Canada will notify passengers of upcoming travel disruptions via email or text message. Passengers can check the status of their flight online.
In a Thursday morning update, the airport says it is increasing its "terminal staffing to support affected travellers as best as possible." However, passengers should check their flight status and access flight re-booking information before heading to the airport.
YVR adds that it will continue to post the latest updates on our social channels as well as online.
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