Air Canada & union reach tentative agreement on new four-year contract

This story was updated on Sunday, September 15 at 9:32 a.m. EST

Air Canada says it has reached a tentative, four-year collective agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.

The new agreement recognizes the contributions and professionalism of Air Canada's pilot group, while providing a framework for the future growth of the airline, according to a press release that was issued early Sunday morning (Sept. 15). 

Terms of the tentative deal will remain confidential pending a ratification vote by the membership, expected to be completed over the next month, and approval by the Air Canada Board of Directors, says the airline. 

If ratified, it will generate an approximate additional $1.9 billion of value for Air Canada pilots over the course of the agreement, said the ALPA in a separate press release. 

Ratification requires approval by a majority of the voting membership, who will soon receive the agreement for review.

“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,” said First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA MEC, 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 This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, would officially put an end to our outdated and stale decade-old, ten-year framework.”

Customers who used the airline's labour 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 and Air Canada Rouge say they will continue to operate as normal and for more information customers should consult this link here. 

This is a developing story. 

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