Air Canada (ACDVF) has issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 10,000 flight attendants, after the union signaled its intent to strike.

Air Canada is preparing to halt most of its flights after its flight attendants' union served a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday, warning of a walkout as contract talks over a pay deal stall.

The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants has signalled that its members intend to go on strike this weekend, paving the way for workers to walk off the job as early as Saturday morning.