Air Canada will begin canceling flights on Thursday after issuing a 72-hour lockout notice to the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 10,000 of the carrier's flight attendants, after the union provided notice that it plans to strike, the carrier announced Wednesday.
Flights will be canceled in phases beginning Aug. 14, with more on Aug. 15 and a "complete cessation of flying" by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge on Aug. 16, according to the carrier. Customers with canceled flights will be notified and can obtain a full refund, according to the carrier.
The lockout will not affect Air Canada Express flights.
Union members on Monday held a "day of action" at multiple Canadian airports. In addition, with 94.6 percent of members voting, 99.7 percent were in favor of a strike, which could begin on Aug. 16.
Air Canada and the union have been in negotiations for eight months but are at an impasse. The carrier also has sought government-directed arbitration.