The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said in a statement early Tuesday that a tentative agreement has been reached to end the contract dispute between flight attendants and Air Canada.

Striking Air Canada flight attendants vowed Monday to defy another back-to-work order from the country's labor tribunal, but resumed talks seeking to end a walkout that has cancelled travel for half a million people worldwide.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board has declared a strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants illegal and ordered them back on the job after they ignored an earlier order to return to work and su