Air Canada and its unionized flight attendants remained at odds on Friday, despite government pleas for both sides to return to bargaining to avert a strike that would upend travel for tens of thousands of passengers.

As Air Canada cancelled flights on Thursday ahead of a possible flight attendants' strike, the union representing those workers accused the federal jobs minister of speaking "on behalf" of the company amid a contentious labour dispute.

Air Canada's flight attendants are on the brink of a systemwide work stoppage due to stalled contract talks. The union demands higher wages while the airline faces potential flight cancellations affecting 100,