The CIRB directed Air Canada to resume operations and for all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to return to their duties by 2pm, the airline said in a statement.

The directive came after the government yesterday moved to end the strike and require binding arbitration to break a contract impasse, an action that the country’s largest carrier had sought but unionised flight attendants fiercely opposed.

Thousands of Air Canada cabin crew walked off the job yesterday for the first time since 1985, after months of negotiations over a new contract.

In anticipation of the stoppage, the airline began cancelling flights on Friday, forcing more than 100,000 travellers to scramble for alternatives or stay put.

Air Canada said flights would restart this evening, but some would still be cancelled over the next seven to 10 days as the schedule stabilises and returns to normal.