Air Canada says it will begin a gradual suspension of flights Thursday to allow an orderly shutdown of the country’s largest airline as it faces a potential work stoppage by its flight attendants on Saturday.

“To provide our customers with certainty, we are now beginning a phased wind down of most of our operations, to be completed over the next three days,” a statement posted to Air Canada’s website Wednesday said, after the union representing about 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice.

The first flights are expected to be canceled Thursday, with more on Friday and a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend.

“We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve,” a

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