Airline passengers will start to feel the effects of a looming Air Canada pilot strike today as a deadline approaches to reach a settlement.
The airline is asking for the government to be ready to intervene to avoid major disruptions that a strike would cause for more than 110-thousand travellers per day.
Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly says any halting of flights at the airline would be catastrophic for small businesses across the country.
While a full shutdown could begin on September 18th, some services like cargo and vacation packages will start to be affected today.
Starting Sunday both the airline and pilots could issue 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout, which would set off a three-day wind-down plan and start the clock on a full work stoppage.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has said the government sees forward momentum in talks.
