Air Canada Strike Could Ground Flights: What Travelers Need to Know – Travel And Tour World

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What Travelers Need to Know About a Potential Air Canada Pilots Strike

Air Canada pilots may go on strike this fall, potentially leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada, which represents Air Canada’s pilots, filed a notice of dispute and requested conciliation assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on June 17, 2024, due to ongoing collective bargaining issues with the airline.

ALPA has been in negotiations with Air Canada since June 2023. First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of Air Canada’s ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC), expressed the union’s desire to avoid a strike but noted that it remains a possibility if fair compensation and benefits are not offered. According to Hudy, while some progress has been made, management’s proposals still fall short of the agreements reached by comparable airlines like United, Delta, and American.

The union also pointed out that Air Canada has not adequately addressed the significant pay sacrifices pilots made after 9/11, despite the airline now being one of the most profitable in North America. Since the last agreement in 2014, Air Canada pilots have only seen a two percent annual pay increase.

Air Canada has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing under the guidance of a federal conciliator. The airline stated that several issues have already been resolved, and it is working to finalize an agreement in the coming weeks. Under federal labor law, neither side can take action until mid-September at the earliest, so Air Canada flights will continue as normal for now.

The situation follows a recent agreement by WestJet pilots, also represented by ALPA, who secured a 24 percent wage increase over the next four years. This deal is considered a benchmark for other Canadian airlines.

For travelers concerned about potential disruptions, it is advisable to stay informed about the ongoing negotiations and any developments that could impact flight schedules in the coming months.