MONTREAL, Aug 6 - Air Canada ( ACDVF ) flight attendants are

heading back to the bargaining table with the airline on Friday,

after overwhelmingly approving a strike mandate this week that

could allow them to walk off the job as early as August 16,

their union said on Wednesday.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents

more than 10,000 flight attendants at the country's largest

carrier, would need to give 72 hours' notice before initiating

any strike. Both sides have said they prefer resolving flight

attendants' demands for higher pay through a negotiated

settlement.

Air Canada ( ACDVF ) was not immediately available for comment on

Wednesday. The Montreal-based carrier has said that there is

enough time to reach a settlement and avert a possible strike.