TORONTO - Air Canada says its flight attendants need to return to work before the airline can push on with negotiations, even as the union says it won't end its now unlawful strike until a deal is reached at the bargaining table.

"We're available and ready to work on an industry leading deal for our flight attendants, making them the best compensated in Canada, but we can't do that while the planes are grounded," said Air Canada chief operating officer Mark Nasr in an interview Monday evening.

Air Canada earlier Monday extended a cancellation of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights through 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Nasr said the Canadian Union of Public Employees needs to direct flight attendants back to work because the Canada Industrial Relations Board has ruled the strike unlawful

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