Air Canada has said that it is finalizing contingency plans to suspend most of its operations as pilot strike action looms. Talks between the airline and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) continue, but the parties remain far apart.
Unless an agreement is reached, beginning on September 15, 2024, either party may issue a 72-hour strike or lockout notice. This would trigger the carrier’s three-day wind down plan.
Potential Operations Shutdown
The Canadian flag carrier has announced that it will begin an “orderly shutdown” of its services. This will be enacted if a strike or lockout notice is issued.
There is now a high probability that Air Canada pilots will be on strike as early as September 17, 2024. Union members involved are part of ALPA – Air Line Pilots Association. The collective has voted 98 per cent in favor of strike action if an agreement cannot be reached with the airline.
The ALPA members are looking for fair compensation, improved benefits, and enhancements to current working conditions.
Air Canada CEO Comments
Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada gave comment on the situation. “Air Canada believes there is still time to reach an agreement with our pilot group. This is provided ALPA moderates its wage demands which far exceed average Canadian wage increases.”
“However, Canadians have recently seen the chaos abrupt airline shutdowns cause for travellers. This obliges us to do everything we can to protect our customers from an increasingly likely work stoppage.”
“This includes the extremely difficult decision to begin an orderly shutdown of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. This will occur once a 72-hour strike or lock out notice is given, possibly as early as this Sunday.”
A statement issued by Unifor on 9 September also addressed the issue. “Strike action (for any union) is always the option of last resort if a deal cannot be reached. A Union’s priority is to obtain a new contract through proper collective bargaining at the negotiating table.”
“However, ALPA and Air Canada have been negotiating for more than a year without a tentative agreement. ALPA is doing what we would do, asking the employer to return the bargaining table with a contract that reflects the value that the membership brings to the Company.”
Potential Impact of Strike Action
The last time Air Canada pilots went on strike was 1998. The strike, which lasted less than two weeks, grounded more than 600 flights daily. It affected more than 60,000 travelers each day. Fast forward to today and the number of passengers disrupted daily more than doubles to 123,000.
“A strike of this magnitude will not only impact the airline and its operations, but it will affect all airlines and related employers across the country.” Tammy Moore, Unifor Local 2002 President warned. “ALPA represents more than 5,400 pilots who are united in securing a new contract. Unifor Local 2002 stands in solidarity with these union members.”
If a strike does occur, it could have a significant impact on air travel in Canada. Air Canada is the country’s largest airline, and a disruption to its services would likely cause widespread inconvenience and economic hardship.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge presently operate close to 670 daily flights on average and carry more than 110,000 passengers within Canada or internationally. Every day, Air Canada flights bring about 24,000 Canadians back home from abroad and return about 15,000 foreigners visiting Canada to their home country.
Air Canada projects that unless a settlement is achieved within the 72-hour notice period, the number of passengers affected by the suspension plan will increase progressively. During the period this is expected to reach approximately 110,000 daily after 72 hours.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
