Air Canada has waived change fees and fare differences for itineraries around September 17, in light of the impending pilots’ strike.
As required by Canadian law, the Air Line Pilots Association and Air Canada are to cool off for three weeks, starting on August 27 and ending on September 17. It follows the pilots’ vote on August 22 to authorize a strike. With 98% of votes, the measure was approved.
The labor agreement that Air Canada’s pilots are employed under was negotiated in 2014. According to ALPA, talks for a new deal got underway in June 2023. January through June was the period of private mediation before the union made the decision to leave the table.
On Tuesday, Air Canada announced that it plans to negotiate a settlement with its pilots.
“During the talks, there has been significant progress and the three-week cooling off period gives the parties more than sufficient time to address any outstanding issues,” said Air Canada. “Air Canada is fully committed to bargaining meaningfully throughout the period.”
The airline acknowledged that customers desire clarity, though. Customers of Air Canada can therefore rebook with the same origin and destination through November 30 without incurring change fees or paying fare differences if they have reservations for travel between September 15 and September 23. Also, there is no change fee for travelers who rebook for travel after November 30; however, fare discrepancies will apply.
Customers of Air Canada have the option to cancel and get a flight credit. The only people who will receive refunds are those who reserved refundable tickets.
APLA declared last week that it is committed to averting a strike and is carrying on with good-faith negotiations after the vote to authorize a strike. The union did, however, add that it is ready for any situation.
“The management of Air Canada possesses the ability and means to prevent a strike, disrupted flights, and long-term harm to its reputation. The only thing they need to do is value their workforce, according to Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council Chair Charlene Hudy.
ALPA has also expressed opposition to the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s (CIRB) decision on August 24 to compel binding arbitration between the Teamsters union and Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the country’s two biggest freight railway companies, and to order striking freight train workers back to work. Striking union workers had started on August 22.
The CIRB ruling is being appealed by the Teamsters.
Tim Perry, president of ALPA Air Canada, stated, “If and when the time comes, we expect the government to respect the collective-bargaining process and uphold the rights of Air Canada pilots.”
