Air Transat pilots have moved to the brink of a strike, serving a 72-hour notice that could see a work stoppage begin as early as Wednesday morning. The action throws holiday travel plans into uncertainty, with the airline confirming flight cancellations will start on Monday and escalate in the lead-up to the potential strike.
Contract Talks Hit Impasse, Strike Vote Overwhelming
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing the pilots, filed the notice on Sunday after nearly a year of negotiations with Transat A.T. Inc., the Montreal-based airline's parent company. The union's move follows a decisive strike vote where 99 per cent of participating pilots authorized job action, with a 98 per cent turnout among eligible members.
Bradley Small, chair of the union's Air Transat contingent, stated that while a strike is not the desired outcome, management has left them with little choice. "There is still time to avoid a strike, but unless significant progress is made at the bargaining table, we will strike if that’s what it takes to achieve a modern contract," Small said.
Airlines and Union Trade Blame as Deadline Looms
The two sides are publicly pointing fingers over the stalled negotiations. Transat's Chief of Human Resources, Julie Lamontagne, called the union's strike notice "premature," citing progress at the bargaining table. She expressed deep disappointment, stating, "It is regrettable that the union has expressed such indifference toward Transat, its employees and clients by choosing the path of a strike at this time of year."
Lamontagne accused the union of showing "no openness," a claim countered by Small, who asserted that pilots have been pushed to this point by management's stance. Transat has publicly outlined an offer including a 59 per cent salary increase over five years alongside improvements to working conditions, but the union seeks stronger provisions for job security, compensation, and quality of life.
Travel Disruption Begins, Passengers Advised
The immediate consequence for travelers is a wave of cancellations. Air Transat has stated it is working to inform affected customers and provide alternative solutions. The 72-hour notice period sets the stage for a potential strike to begin on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, which marks the end of a government-mediated 21-day cooling-off period.
This timeline means:
- Monday, December 8: Flight cancellations begin as the airline proactively manages its schedule.
- Wednesday, December 10: The earliest possible start time for a full strike by pilots or a lockout by the company.
The airline says it continues to negotiate around the clock in hopes of reaching a last-minute agreement to avert a full-scale work stoppage during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.