Air Canada plans to introduce a new policy that will cover transportation expenses for customers affected by a recent work stoppage. The airline is set to provide details about this "exceptional policy" on Wednesday.

This announcement comes as Air Canada resumes flights following a complete halt of operations that began early Saturday morning. The airline restarted its services on Tuesday afternoon after a three-day strike by flight attendants. Air Canada is prioritizing outbound international routes as it ramps up operations.

By the end of its first day back in service, Air Canada had scheduled 155 flights across North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. The airline intends to increase its domestic flights on Wednesday. However, it has warned that returning to full service may take up to 10 days due to aircraft and crew being out of position. Additionally, mandatory maintenance checks are required since the planes were grounded for over three days.

Mark Nasr, Air Canada's executive vice-president and chief operations officer, stated, "Regrettably, during this period some flights will be cancelled until the schedule is stabilized, and we’ll notify customers well in advance and provide options." He acknowledged that the recent disruptions have shaken customer confidence and emphasized the airline's commitment to restoring trust.

To assist customers, Air Canada has launched an online dashboard that allows passengers to track the airline's operational progress. Nasr expressed optimism, saying, "We look forward to welcoming our customers and flight attendants back onboard."

As of Tuesday, the dashboard indicated that 61 percent of domestic flights were expected to operate within the next 24 hours, along with 72 percent of transborder flights and 35 percent of other international routes. The airline also reported that the average wait time for its contact center was over 2.5 hours.

For customers whose flights were canceled, Air Canada is offering full refunds or credits for future travel if they cannot be rebooked on a competitor's flight. The airline and the union representing over 10,000 flight attendants reached a new tentative agreement on Tuesday morning with the assistance of a federal mediator.