Air Transat cancels flights as strike deadline nears

EDITOR'S NOTE: Air Transat reached a tentative agreement with the ALPA on Tuesday night (Dec. 9), averting a strike. Click here for details.

The clock is ticking, the pressure is on.

With a possible pilots' strike looming in less than 24 hours, Air Transat has cancelled flights scheduled for Tuesday (Dec. 9) and Wednesday (Dec. 10. 

The affected routes include Montreal–Cancun, Cancun–Montreal, Toronto Pearson–Cancun, Cancun–Toronto Pearson, Montreal–Punta Cana, and Punta Cana–Montreal.

Select flights to Europe and South America are also now included in the cancellation list.

On Monday (Dec. 8), the airline cautioned that unless it reached an agreement with ALPA, the union that represents its some 750 pilots, by Tuesday, it would begin scaling back operations in preparation for a potential strike.

The ALPA issued a 72-hour strike notice on Sunday, which means that Air Transat's pilots could walk off the job as soon as 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning (Dec. 10).

Early return of customers begins

As previously reported, the company addressed the tense situation in a notice sent to Canadian travel advisors late last night.

The carrier has implemented a strike action plan that includes the early return of customers whose flight was originally scheduled for December 10, 2025, or later in the day on December 9, 2025.

“Our priority remains the same: bringing our travellers home,” the notice reads. “Some passengers who were scheduled to return on December 10 will now return on December 9. We are communicating directly with affected passengers to provide all necessary information and facilitate their return.”

Transat says it has fulfilled its commitment by sending notifications to the email addresses listed in the booking file.

“It is your responsibility to ensure these notifications reach your clients, especially when their email address was not entered in the file,” the company wrote, addressing the trade. “Please verify and complete this step to avoid any oversight or misunderstanding.”

An initial communication has been sent to inform clients of their early return, followed by a second message with the details of their new flight scheduled Tuesday as soon as the booking is updated, the company said.

“It is important to review the information contained in both emails and forward them to your clients,” Transat said. “We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this extraordinary and unforeseen situation and thank you for your understanding.”

Air Transat reiterated its plan to cancel flights in an update posted to its website late Monday night.

The carrier says it intends to operate repatriation flights and add capacity on certain flights “to bring as many travellers as possible back to Canada.”

“We understand that this situation may cause inconvenience and uncertainty. Our priority is to remain transparent, to support you, and to answer any questions you may have,” the company wrote.

“Negotiations are ongoing, and our goal remains to reach an agreement so we can resume normal operations as possible and minimize disruptions for you.”

Divided over pay

According to CBC News, Air Transat’s talks with the ALPA pilots have moved forward, but the two sides remain divided over pay.

In a statement Sunday, the airline said its latest proposal to the union includes a 59 per cent wage increase spread over five years, along with what it called significant improvements to working conditions.

However, the union disputes that characterization, with ALPA Canada president Capt. Tim Perry calling the company’s wage figure “completely inaccurate.”

"If we had 59 per cent on the table from the company, we would be taking it to our members. It would be irresponsible not to," said Perry during an interview with CBC on Monday.

Air Transat, however, is defending the figure, according to Dave Bourdages, the airline’s vice-president of flight operations.

In an interview with CBC, he noted that the 59 per cent increase represents an average.

"When inside the pay scale, of course, you can have some pilots that are a little bit lower than the 59 per cent, some are a little bit higher than that," said Bourdages. "We also recognize previous years of experience. But overall, the 59 per cent average does stand."

Meanwhile, Air Canada’s 5,200 pilots recently secured a contract that includes pay increases of 42 per cent over four years.

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