Air Canada flight attendants said Tuesday they had reached a "tentative" deal with the airline to end a strike over wages and ground work that has cancelled travel for half a million people worldwide.

Air Canada's flight attendants' union announced it had reached a tentative agreement early Tuesday, after risking jail time to strike.

Air Canada flight attendants ’ strike entered its fourth day on Tuesday, causing widespread disruption for hundreds of thousands of summer travellers, despite the union confirming that talks with the airline have resumed.

In what is being called a “terrible precedent” by CUPE and a “blatant misuse” of the Labour Code by opposition MPs, federal Jobs minister Patty Hajdu has ordered Air Canada flight attendants back to work while the airline and union undergo binding arbitration.

The Canadian government has urged Air Canada and its flight attendants' union to restart contract negotiations, with a threatened work stoppage that could disrupt travel for tens of thousands just hours away unless there is a resolution to the dispute.