Air Canada has cancelled hundreds of flights and suspended all operations following a massive strike by unionized flight attendants.

The airline was forced to ground planes after 10,000 staff walked out amid a bitter contract dispute.

The industrial action began on Saturday at around 1am ET and immediately saw all 700 flights per day the airline offers cancelled.

Around 130,000 people could be impacted for every day the strike continues. Air Canada is the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the U.S.

Flight attendants are seeking changes which would see them be paid for time spent on the ground between flights and helping passengers board.