Why Are 5200 Air Canada Pilots Planning A Strike On September 18? Can This Disrupt Your Travel Plans?

If you’re planning to fly with Air Canada in September, your travel plans may face disruption. With 5200 Air Canada pilots threatening a mass strike on September 18, this shutdown could affect 110,000 passengers daily. Read on to know the reason behind the possible strike and if the airline will reach a mid-ground on the matter with its pilots.

5200 Air Canada Pilots To Stage A Mass Strike Over Wage Dispute

For the past few weeks, Canada’s largest airline Air Canada has been facing the brunt of its disgruntled pilots. Air Canada’s 5200 pilots are remonstrating for an increase in wages to match their peers at major US airlines like United Airlines. They are seeking an increase in their salaries in their new contract to close the wage gap with their peers. Canada’s flag carrier, in turn, offered to increase the wages of the pilots by about 30 per cent within the next three years, as per an article by Financial Post.

The pilots were promised a 20 per cent increase in wages up front and this would be followed by annual raises over a three-year period. The airline’s offer to its pilots included improvements in health benefits and pension. For more than a year, Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association have been in talks. The pilots were under a 10-year contract which was ratified in 2014. It provided only a 2 per cent pay raise annually. However, the pilots haven’t received a raise since last year.

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Airline Is Gearing Up For A Mass Strike On September 18

Large American airlines gave their pilots substantial raises in 2023. Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) provided pilots working for large American airlines an increase of as much as 40 per cent. This included an immediate pay boost of 13.8 per cent to 18.7 per cent. In previous statements, the ALPA has said that Air Canada pilots are paid less than half of what their industry counterparts earn.

Displeased with the negotiations, 5200 Air Canada pilots are planning to go on a mass strike on September 18. In response the company said that it will have a complete shutdown and will suspend its operations, anticipating the potential strike. The carrier handles nearly 670 flights daily and this possible shutdown on September 18 can affect 110,000 passengers daily. Both Air Canada and its low-cost carrier Air Canada Rouge may start suspending flights from September 15. This may go on for the next three days.

However, fliers can avail of services of Air Canada Express which is not involved in these negotiations. Air Canada expects seven to ten days to recover from this shutdown.

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So, travellers, if you are planning to fly with Air Canada during this period, it’s best to stay vigilant.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikipedia