“Follow in the footsteps of Air Canada," Air Transat pilots tell management ahead of labour talks

Pilots at Air Transat are congratulating pilots at Air Canada for securing “one of the largest labour agreements in Canadian aviation history.”

Capt. Bradley Small, chair of the Air Transat Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued a statement on Friday (Oct. 18), calling Air Canada’s recently ratified agreement “historical,” saying that it raises the bar for pilots in Canada while establishing a benchmark for pattern bargaining – with a particular focus on compensation and quality of life across the industry.

Air Canada’s Oct. 10 ratification, which the ALPA said was approved by 67 per cent of members who voted, ensures pilots will have a contract until 2027 that includes “significant” pay increases and “improvements to quality of life.”

The union, which represents more than 5,200 Air Canada pilots, had threatened to strike last month after contract talks stalled, which could have disrupted flights for thousands of passengers

The act terms of the agreement have not been publicly shared, but according to a copy of the executive summary viewed by media outlets, like Global News, the pilots will get an approximately 41.7 per cent cumulative pay increase over four years.

"Follow in the footsteps of Air Canada"

The deal will likely serve as a model for Air Transat’s pilot negotiations, which begin in January.

Air Transat pilots “strongly encourage our management team to follow in the footsteps of Air Canada by acknowledging the market trends in the aviation sector and recognizing the value, skill, and experience our pilots bring to the airline and our passengers daily,” Capt. Small stated.

“Over the past 18 months, ALPA represented pilots at WestJet, WestJet Encore, and several other carriers who were forced by their management teams to the brink of strike or lockout scenarios before finally understanding that needlessly creating labour unrest erodes consumer confidence, negatively impacts workplace morale, and does little to help the airline.

“We are committed to the success of our airline and aim to ensure that Air Transat continues to be an industry leader as we work together towards recognizing the company’s future growth strategies.”

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