The airline says gradual cancellations starting Thursday will lead to a full shutdown of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights by the weekend

Under Canada's Airline Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), customers are not eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, meals, hotels or other incidental expenses during labour disruptions over and above re-booking them on the next flight if all their travel takes place in Canada.

Air Canada is set to begin pre-emptively cancelling flights ahead of a Saturday deadline for a potential strike, throwing a wrench into travel plans, connecting flights and long-awaited summer excursions. It also raises the question of whether passengers are owed more than just refunds and rebooking onto alternative flights.