Air Canada, the flag carrier of Canada, and the union, that represents its pilots, have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year collective labor contract.
In a statement released on September 15, 2024, Air Canada explained that the new agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing more than 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, acknowledges the pilots’ contributions and establishes a framework for the airline’s future growth. However, the details of the agreement with the union will remain confidential until the membership ratification vote, expected within the next month, and approval by the airline’s Board of Directors.
“Customers who used the airline’s labor disruption goodwill policy to change their flights originally scheduled from between September 15 and 23, 2024, to another date before November 30, 2024, can change their booking back to their original flight in the same cabin at no cost, providing there is space available,” Air Canada’s statement reads.
ALPA projects that the new contract will deliver approximately $1.4 billion in additional value over its term. This will represent a 46% increase compared to the previous agreement, which expired in September 2023.
“While it has been an exceptionally long road to this agreement, the consistent engagement and unified determination of our pilots have been the catalyst for achieving this contract,” First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA MEC, said in a statement.
“After several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues including compensation, retirement, and work rules. This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, would officially put an end to our outdated and stale decade-old, ten-year framework,” Hudy concluded.
Had the agreement not been reached, Air Canada planned to gradually cancel flights over three days and was also considering halting all operations on September 18. But with the deal now in place, both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will continue their operations without disruption.