Air Canada said on Tuesday it has asked for federal government intervention in contract talks with its flight attendants union, after the airline declared an impasse in the negotiations.

The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants has signalled that its members intend to go on strike this weekend, paving the way for workers to walk off the job as early as Saturday morning.The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave the carrier a requisite 72-hour notice after the two sides reached an "impasse" in negotiations.