Earlier today, Air Canada's pilots ratified a new four-year contract. The new deal is a near C$1.9 billion ($1.38 billion USD) increase over the previous deal.
We have a deal
Pilots at Air Canada had been without a contract since September 2023. After more than a year of negotiations, union leadership accepted the proposed deal in September, averting a strike. Then, the pilots voted on the deal.
According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents Air Canada's pilots, 99% of eligible pilots voted. Despite such a high percentage of voters, only 67% of pilots approved the contract. This number is low compared to other airlines, like United Airlines, which saw 82% of its pilots approve its latest contract in September 2023.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The new contract is already in effect since the previous one had expired in 2023. As it is a four-year deal, the previous contract expired one year ago, and the new contract expires on September 29, 2027.
"This contract is the largest labour agreement in Air Canada's history and reflects contributions that our pilots bring to the success of our airline. This agreement helps restore what Air Canada pilots have lost over the past two decades and creates a strong foundation from which to build on." First Officer Charlene Hudy, Chair, Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council
Hudy added that the new deal demonstrates the airline's commitment to its pilots and its growth plans. By offering a contract that will improve pay by almost 42% over the next three years, the airline highlights the importance of its pilots.
Air Canada put out a press release today and president Michael Rousseau said,
"We are very pleased this new collective agreement has been approved by our pilot group. The agreement is mutually beneficial and it will keep our pilots the best compensated in Canada and provide the work-life balance improvements they were seeking. At the same time, the agreement gives our company flexibility and creates a framework for future growth of the airline and its network. We look forward to working with our pilots under this renewed partnership."
Avoiding a strike
When the tentative agreement was reached between union leadership and the airline, Air Canada was ready for a strike. The airline had already begun contacting passengers and offering them free re-booking during the period in which a strike would have occurred. Had a strike gone through, nearly 700 flights would have been canceled daily, affecting more than 100,000 passengers.
Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock
After the airline announced the strike had been averted, it told passengers who had changed their flights that they could once again change back to the original dates without paying a difference. This applied to flights that would have taken place between September 15 and 23.
There was a significant number of pilots who did not approve of the deal, nearly one third of those who voted. Fearing that the pilots would not approve the deal, Hudy had said that if the deal was rejected, she would step down from her post. This forced many pilots to consider strongly whether they should accept the deal they had been offered or try to fight for more.