Air Transat is preparing to suspend its flight operations after the union representing its pilots issued a formal 72-hour strike notice, setting the stage for potential major travel disruptions in the middle of the busy holiday season.
Airline Forced into Gradual Shutdown
In a statement released on Sunday, the Montreal-based carrier announced it will begin a gradual and orderly suspension of flights starting Monday. This drastic step is a direct response to the strike notice issued by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) following the breakdown of mediation talks on Saturday.
The airline stated the advance notice compels it to start cancelling flights and working to return its aircraft, crew, and passengers to Canada over the next two days. This pre-emptive measure is intended to prevent travelers and employees from being stranded overseas if a walkout occurs.
Air Transat has advised passengers with bookings within the next five days that they can change or postpone their trips without charge. The airline expressed regret for the disruption but placed the blame squarely on the pilots' union.
Airline Calls Union Demands "Unreasonable"
Julie Lamontagne, Air Transat's chief human resources, corporate responsibility and communications officer, criticized the union's decision as "premature." She stated that the company had made significant progress at the bargaining table and had presented generous offers, including a proposal to increase pilot wages by 59 percent over a five-year period.
"This strike notice is premature given the progress made at the bargaining table and the generous offers made by Air Transat," Lamontagne said. She added that the company had put forward several compromises and improvements, but claimed ALPA has "shown no openness."
Lamontagne called the decision to threaten a strike during the peak holiday travel period a "reckless" move that demonstrates indifference toward the company, its other 4,300 employees, and its customers.
Pilots Cite Lack of Progress in Negotiations
In response, the union leadership stated that the pilots are left with little choice. Captain Bradley Small, chair of the ALPA Air Transat master executive council, said months of unproductive bargaining have led to this point.
"Months of unproductive bargaining ends now," Small stated. "If we cannot reach an agreement, management will be responsible for every cancelled flight and stranded passenger."
The pilots have been working under a contract that was originally signed in 2015. Negotiations for a new agreement began in January and continued past the contract's expiration in April. Captain Small has previously stated that the pilots are seeking a deal comparable to those recently ratified by pilots at Air Canada and WestJet.
Such an agreement would address key issues for the pilots, including:
- Improved working conditions and scheduling
- Enhanced benefits and increased pay
- Greater job security
- Better retirement protection
The union has alleged that the company was only present for about one-fifth of the scheduled bargaining sessions over the summer, a claim that prompted ALPA to request conciliators from the federal government.
The 72-hour notice period means that the earliest the pilots could legally walk off the job is Wednesday morning, casting a shadow over mid-week travel plans for thousands of passengers during one of the busiest travel times of the year.