UPDATED: Industry Relieved as Air Canada, ALPA reach tentative deal

 Air Canada reached a tentative, four-year collective agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents over 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, on the weekend.

Reacting to the announcement of a tentative deal, Christine James, vice president Canada, Travel Leaders Network, pretty much summed things up, tell Travel Press Today that: “It’s a great relief for everyone, but In particular our industry and our dedicated travel advisers who have been sitting on the edge for the past week.”

And James continued: “I witnessed firsthand how many of our travel advisors who attended the ACTA Summit this week. how stressed out and concerned they all were struggling to find alternate arrangements for their clients that could have been affected by a walkout.”

In announcing the deal, Air Canada said that: “The new agreement recognizes the contributions and professionalism of Air Canada’s pilot group, while providing a framework for the future growth of the airline.”

Terms of the new agreement will remain confidential pending a ratification vote by the membership — expected to be completed over the next month — and approval by the Air Canada Board of Directors.

The airline also advises that customers who used the airline’s labour disruption goodwill policy to change their flights originally scheduled from between Sept. 15 and Sept. 23, 2024, to another date before Nov. 30, 2024, can change their booking back to their original flight in the same cabin at no cost, providing there is space available.

Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will continue to operate as normal and for more information customers should consult www.aircanada.com/action.

ALPA comments on tentative deal

The Air Canada Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), representing more than 5,400 Air Canada pilots, voted to approve a Tentative Agreement (TA) on modified terms for their Collective Agreement.

If ratified, the TA will generate an approximate additional $1.9 billion of value for Air Canada pilots over the course of the agreement. Ratification requires approval by a majority of the voting membership, who will soon receive the Tentative Agreement for review.

First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA MEC, said that: “While it has been an exceptionally long road to this agreement, the consistent engagement and unified determination of our pilots have been the catalyst for achieving this contract.”

Hudy continued: “After several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues including compensation, retirement, and work rules. This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, would officially put an end to our outdated and stale decade-old, ten-year framework.”

Go to www.aircanadapilots.ca for more.