By Blessing Nweke
Air Transat, one of Canada’s largest airlines, announced that it will begin gradually suspending flights starting Monday as it braces for a potential pilots’ strike later this week. The move follows a 72-hour strike notice issued Sunday by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents about 750 Air Transat pilots.
The union said pilots will begin strike action on Wednesday if no contract agreement is reached. In response, Air Transat said it would start cancelling flights Monday and suspend all operations by Tuesday to avoid “the consequences of a sudden, unplanned interruption” should the strike proceed.
Air Transat called the strike notice “premature,” insisting that meaningful progress had been made at the bargaining table. But union leaders disputed that assessment.
“No pilot wants to strike, but Air Transat management has left us no choice,” said Capt. Bradley Small, who leads a pilot group within the union. “Months of unproductive bargaining ends now. If we cannot reach an agreement, management will be responsible for every cancelled flight and stranded passenger.”
Pilots have been negotiating for nearly a year to replace their 2015 contract with one they say would secure “industry-standard pay, benefits, work rules, and job security.” According to ALPA, 99% of participating members voted to authorize a strike, reflecting mounting frustration over stalled talks.
Air Transat’s human resources officer, Julie Lamontagne, said the airline has negotiated “in good faith” and accused the union of displaying “indifference toward Transat” with a “reckless decision” that does not reflect the state of negotiations.
The airline said suspending flights ahead of time is necessary to ensure passengers, crew, and aircraft are not left stranded abroad should the strike begin.
A similar labour dispute in 2024 involving the airline’s flight dispatchers was ultimately resolved before a strike occurred.
Original article
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