Air Canada says some operations will be affected today as pilot talks near deadline

Air Canada could start cancelling flights imminently ahead of strike deadline

If the union representing its pilots fail to come to a negotiated settlement to avoid a strike or shutdown, the federal government must be prepared to bring in binding arbitration or force pilots back to work, a group representing small businesses said on Friday morning.

Montreal Standard | Breaking News, Stories and PhotosKkritika Suri

Air Canada has announced that its operations will begin to be affected starting today due to an impending labor dispute with its pilots, as time runs short before a potential shutdown.

On Thursday, the airline urged the government to be prepared to step in to prevent significant disruptions that a shutdown could cause for its more than 110,000 daily travelers.

According to the airline, services such as cargo and vacation packages will begin to be impacted today, with a full shutdown possible by September 18.

Starting Sunday, both the airline and the pilots will have the option to issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout. The airline stated that such a notice would activate its three-day wind-down plan and set the timeline for a complete work stoppage.

The airline has criticized the union for being rigid and presenting "unreasonable wage demands."

In response, the union has accused Air Canada of corporate greed, arguing that the airline, which continues to report record profits, is expecting pilots to accept compensation below market rates.