Air Canada said Wednesday it will begin a gradual suspension of flights to allow an orderly shutdown of the country’s largest airline as it faces a potential work stoppage by its flight attendants

Air Canada said it had reached an impasse with the union as the two sides remained far apart in contract talks

Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, has started cancelling flights ahead of a planned nationwide strike of 10,400 flight attendants and cabin crew, after pay talks broke down this week.