The Canadian travel industry and travelling Canadians can breathe a sigh of relief this morning, as Air Canada has reached a tentative, four-year collective agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing more than 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
The airline says the new agreement “recognizes the contributions and professionalism of Air Canada’s pilot group, while providing a framework for the future growth of the airline.”
Terms of the new deal will remain confidential pending a ratification vote, expected to be completed over the next month, followed by approval by the Air Canada Board of Directors.
Customers who used the airline’s labour disruption goodwill policy to change their flights originally scheduled from between September 15 and 23, to another date before November 30, can now change their booking back to their original flight in the same cabin at no cost, providing there is space available.
Air Canada president and CEO Michael Rousseau (Photo Credit: Air Canada Media License)
The tentative deal ends an anxious period of brinksmanship between pilots and employer. Earlier in the week, AC CEO Michael Rousseau had said the two sides were nearing an impasse, and called for the federal government to impose binding arbitration.
An “orderly shutdown” of operations was to begin this morning if a deal wasn’t reached. As of 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 15, the Air Line Pilots Association was in a legal position to issue a 72-hour strike notice, and AC was also in a legal position to issue a lockout notice.
At industry events in Toronto last week, including the ACTA Eastern Canada Summit, the potential pilot strike was the main topic of conversation. Many travel advisors had already spent hours proactively rebooking customers.
The airline says Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will continue to operate as normal. For more information, click here.