Air Canada reaches deal with pilots’ union, averting strike By Reuters

(Reuters) – Air Canada said on Sunday morning it had reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union on a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, in a deal that will avoid a near-term strike or lockout.

Canada’s largest airline said in a statement that the terms of its new agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing more than 5,200 pilots, will remain confidential pending a ratification vote by its members, which is due to be completed next month.

Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, which operate nearly 670 flights a day, will continue to fly as normal, the airline said.

Before the tentative agreement was reached, the airline was preparing to phase out flights over three days and completely shut down operations as early as 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on Wednesday, September 18.

ALPA said in a separate statement that its leaders approved the tentative agreement with Air Canada for member ratification.

Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon said in a post on X that travel disruptions for Canadians were prevented thanks to the hard work of the parties and federal mediators.

Air Canada pilots have been demanding wage rates that narrow the pay gap with their counterparts at major US airlines such as United Airlines.