The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says it will continue to defy a back-to-work order despite the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruling their strike "unlawful".

Air Canada has suspended plans to restart operations Sunday, after flight attendants refused to comply with a federal return-to-work order.

"Major disappointment," said Zakaluzny, co-director of the ensemble. "We had put in the preparation work, people had taken … a week of holidays and all of a sudden they're going nowhere fast."