Looming Pilot Strike: Air Transat to Halt Operations

‍MONTRÉAL — Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat (TS) said yesterday it would gradually begin cancelling flights today after 760 of its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), voted to strike.

Pilots can strike as early as 3 AM EST on Wednesday, an action that was voted 99% in favour of by 98% of eligible pilots last week.

“This overwhelming vote sends a clear message to management: our pilot group is unified, determined, and prepared for job action if the company does not provide us with a modern contract,” ALPA said in a statement.

As of the time of publication, the airline says it will begin winding down flights on Monday, and if an agreement is not reached before Tuesday, all flights will be grounded that evening.

The carrier operates over 500 weekly flights during the winter with its all-Airbus fleet of 8 A321-200s, 19 A321LRs, 14 A330-200s, and two A330-300s; the largest widebody fleet in Canada after Air Canada (AC).

This strike, if it goes ahead, will be the most considerable disruption of operations at a major Canadian airline since August, when Air Canada’s (AC) flight attendants went on strike.

Air Transat Statement

“The union representing our pilots has informed Air Transat of a strike notice on December 7, which may be exercised within 72 hours. This means the strike could officially begin on December 10, and our flight operations will be disrupted until an agreement is reached. This notice compels us to implement an action plan that includes the gradual and orderly shutdown of our operations over the next three days.

We understand that this situation may cause uncertainty and concern. Our priority is to remain transparent, to support you, and to answer any questions you may have.

Negotiations are ongoing, and our goal remains to reach an agreement so we can maintain our flights as much as possible and minimize disruptions for you.”

More details of what to do if your flight is cancelled or you have an upcoming flight can be found on Air Transat’s website.

The Contract

2015 was the last time a collective agreement between Air Transat and ALPA had been reached, a 10-year deal. ALPA says that this contract no longer reflects industry standards for pay, scheduling, pensions, or quality of life.

Negotiations for a new agreement began in January, three months after Air Canada’s ALPA represented pilots ratified a 4-year deal in October, narrowly avoiding a strike.

The airline says it offered pilots a 59% wage increase over 5 years; however, the union disputes this outright, claiming it is fabricated.

The strike can start as soon as Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET, according to a Sunday statement from  ALPA.

UPDATE

The pilots of Air Transat avoided a work stoppage on Tuesday night thanks to a tentative deal struck just hours before a strike deadline.

For nearly a year, the Montreal-based airline and the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents its 750 pilots, have been negotiating to replace a 2015 agreement.  

In Montreal, negotiations were going on virtually nonstop. The agreement's specifics were not immediately available. It needs to be ratified by a majority of union members in a future vote.  

According to the union, the agreement "recognizes the professional contributions of Air Transat pilots" and represents a "modern contract."