The Canadian government on Saturday moved to end a strike by Air Canada's cabin crews and require binding arbitration to break their contract impasse, an action that the country's largest carrier had sought but unionized flight attendants fiercely opposed.

When Air Canada pilots went on strike in September 1998 for 13 days, all of the carrier's more than 600 daily flights were grounded, stranding passengers and costing the airline C$133m ($96m; £71m) before a negotiated deal was reached.

Canada's flag carrying airline Air Canada is set to cancel most of its flights this week, starting Aug. 13, 2025. A 72-hour strike planned by flight attendant crews over a stalled pay deal set off the cancelations,