Alert! Air Canada Pilots announces strike; airline expects massive flight disruptions
SJ Singh/ Diaspora Correspondent/ September 10,2024
Air Canada is preparing to suspend most of its flights starting next Sunday as it faces a likely impasse in talks with its pilots over wage demands, the company said.
In a statement the Air Canada authorities informed that “it is in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Currently, our operations are not affected, and our flights are operating as scheduled. Rest assured that we will notify you of any impact to your flight itinerary in advance of your travel.”
The nation’s flagship carrier and the union representing more than 5,200 pilots remain far apart on a deal after 15 months of ongoing negotiations.
As per available information, last month, Air Canada’s pilots votes overwhelmingely in favour of strike action.Though the 21-day cooling-off period ends Sept. 17, flight disruptions could start as soon as soon Sept. 13. The strike’s larger impact would then start on Sept. 15.
As travelers prepare for the possibility of massive flight disruptions, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has announced Air Canada pilots will open a strike centre headquarters in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 12.
As per available information, in anticipation of a strike, Air Canada released a flexible rebooking policy allowing guests with travel booked from Sept. 15 to 23 to change or cancel their flights for no additional charge.
The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) is asking the federal government to step in and facilitate a resolution between Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
“Air Canada is the country’s largest airline, transporting up to 110,000 passengers per day. If its planes are grounded, the repercussions on the travel industry would be devastating,” ACTA said in a statement. Air Canada flies to 47 countries and carries an average of 110,000 passengers a day on its 670 flights.
Air Canada pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, are looking for parity with those at other North American airlines and are using Delta’s contract, which pays its pilots about 45% more than Air Canada’s.
Air Canada said that a 72-hour strike or lockout notice could be issued as early as Sunday, Sept. 15. The airline would begin winding down operations, a process that would take place gradually over three days.
Alert! Air Canada Pilots announces strike; airline expects massive flight disruptions. Flights across its system would be cancelled over the three days, with a total shutdown as early as 12:01 a.m. ET on Sept. 18 claimed a news agency.
If a work stoppage occurs, Air Canada says it will make every effort to resume normal operations as quickly as possible once a settlement with its pilots is reached. But it could take seven to 10 days to restore the system to full capacity in the wake of a complete shutdown.
