With Air Canada expected to address its negotiations with its flight attendant union this morning, the federal jobs minister says she has asked the Canada Union of Public Employees to respond to the airline’s request for binding arbitration.

Air Canada will start suspending flights Thursday and fully halt operations by the weekend due to a looming flight attendant strike.

Air Canada is cancelling flights from Thursday, as the country's largest carrier winds down service ahead of a looming Saturday strike by its more than 10,000 flight attendants.