Canadians overwhelmingly side with Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants as the carrier braces for a possible strike this weekend, according to new surveys by Angus Reid Institute and Abacus Data. In the Angus Reid poll released 15 Aug., 84 % of respondents called it “unfair” that attendants are paid only once an aircraft is airborne, while just 8 % deemed the practice fair. An Abacus survey conducted a day earlier found 88 % believe attendants should be compensated for all work-related duties, including boarding, deplaning and safety checks. Public sympathy is tilted heavily toward labour: 59 % of respondents identify more with flight attendants versus 12 % with the airline, and 66 % say Air Canada can afford to boost wages. A narrow majority (59 %) also wants the federal government to respect the right to strike even if travel is disrupted; 24 % favour intervention to keep planes flying. The sentiment data land as Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees remain deadlocked over pay and working conditions. After receiving a strike notice from the union, the airline issued a lockout notice and has begun cancelling flights in anticipation of a walkout that could start as early as 16 Aug. Regulators say carriers must still arrange alternate travel for affected passengers, but consumer advocates warn customers to document interactions and avoid reflexively accepting refunds.