Canadian airline Air Transat and union reach tentative agreement
Canadian airline Air Transat and the union representing its pilots announced that they had reached an agreement in principle that would avoid a strike and suspension of flights.
Air Transat indicated that the proposal would be “submitted to members for ratification in the coming days”.
“Our operations are returning to normal,” said Air Transat’s press release on Tuesday.
Captain Bradley Small, Chair of Air Transat’s ALPA Senior Executive Council (MEC), said his union’s “unity and determination finally brought Air Transat management to the bargaining table to bargain meaningfully.”
More than 750 pilots must now vote on the agreement.
The Air Transat Pilot Leaders (ALPA) union and the airline negotiated for 11 months, without reaching an agreement.
The impasse broke out on Sunday after 99% of the union’s pilots voted in favor of the strike. Air Transat then announced it would begin reducing its flights in anticipation of the shutdown, which is expected to begin Wednesday.
The union said its current contract “falls significantly behind industry standards” but that the tentative agreement would improve job security, pay and schedule flexibility for its pilots.
“We recognize that this period has caused significant uncertainty and we offer our most sincere apologies to customers whose travel plans have been disrupted in recent days,” said the Air Transat press release announcing the tentative agreement.
“Our priority now is to quickly restore our operations and provide you with the best possible service.”
This is the second major Canadian airline strike to occur this year.
In August, Air Canada flight attendants went on strike, leading to hundreds of cancellations and government intervention.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and Air Canada finally reached an agreement in principle after the appointment of a government mediator.
