Air Canada's operations seem to be returning to normal after a handful of flights were cancelled or delayed Saturday morning following an illegal strike by pilots a day earlier that stranded thousands of travellers.

The airline posted on its website that it "has resumed its full flight schedule" after at least 75 flights were cancelled Friday when about 150 pilots called in sick.

Saturday's problems were caused by a "ripple effect" that left aircraft "out of position" for start up, a company spokesman said.

About 10 flights were cancelled and at least 18 delayed at Pearson International Airport.

Several flights were also cancelled at Montreal's airport and there were reported delays in Halifax earlier in the day.

Air Canada won an order Friday from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) requiring the pilots to end work stoppages across the country.

The order declared certain pilots were engaged in an illegal strike and called on the Air Canada Pilots Association to take "all reasonable steps" to end the strike and get participating pilots back to work.

The union represents about 3,000 pilots and urged its members to report for work and ignore their colleagues involved in the job action.

Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt blocked labour action from both sides in March, referring disputes between 8,600 pilots and ground crews to the CIRB.

Flights were also affected March 23 after a wildcat strike by ground crews across the country was sparked when several workers were suspended for making sarcastic gestures at Raitt when she walked through Pearson airport.

With files from The Canadian Press