In a press conference on Monday, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) national president Mark Hancock said flight attendants “will not be returning to the skies this afternoon,” rejecting a Canada Industrial Relations Board order that called on them to resume work by noon ET on Monday. (The Canadian Press)

Talking point: Hancock’s comments throw the Air Canada flight attendants’ strike into uncertain territory. The airline started winding down its operations and cancelling flights last week after the CUPE, on behalf of the roughly 10,000 Air Canada attendants it represents, issued a 72-hour lockout notice. The union’s willingness to defy the federal order suggests the labour dispute could drag on for some time. Air Canada on Monday shelved its financial guidance for the third quarter and the rest of the year, as the cancellation of all its flights clouded its outlook. The airline’s shares were down 3 per cent on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday.