Porter pilots serve notice to bargain for first collective agreement

Porter Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have served the carrier a written notice to bargain, beginning their first official round of labour negotiations under the Canada Labour Code.

“By joining ALPA last month, the Porter pilots now have a collective voice as we formally begin negotiations for our first collective agreement,” said Captain Andrew Axson, chair of the Porter pilots’ Master Executive Council. 

“We are excited to have access to ALPA resources as we engage with Porter’s management to enhance both the commercial success of the airline and the well-being of our pilots and their families.”

The move follows a grassroots effort by pilots under the banner “Porter Pilots for Change,” which led to ALPA’s certification as the bargaining agent for Porter pilots by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on August 11, 2025.

“Our goal is to reach a fair contract that recognizes our pilots’ important role in Porter’s success,” Axson added.

 “Porter pilots are proud of our profession and where we work. We remain fully invested in both our company’s growth, as well as our customers’ safety and satisfaction. Our contract should reflect the dedication, value and skill we bring to the airline.”

Porter Airlines, headquartered in Toronto, employs more than 800 pilots based in Toronto, Vancouver, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Montréal, and Halifax. 

The airline operates passenger service within Canada and to the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

ALPA, founded in 1931, represents more than 80,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

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