As possible strike by Air Canada pilots looms, travellers can change flights free of charge

Those who’ve booked Air Canada flights out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga and other airports across the country can alter their travel plans free of charge if they choose to do so as a potential strike by pilots at the airline looms.

Officials with Canada’s biggest airline said in a statement this week that as negotiations between Air Canada and its 5,400 or so pilots continue, people with travel plans in the near future can make other arrangements without penalty.

Pilots can go on strike as early as Sept. 17 if a new collective agreement isn’t reached by that time.

“Air Canada is in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association. Currently, our operations are not affected and our flights are operating as scheduled,” Air Canada said in its online statement. “However, if you want to make alternate travel arrangements for your peace of mind, we’ve implemented a policy that allows you to change your flight for free.”

Company officials say those with booked flights can change their plans free of charge if they purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than Aug. 27, 2024 for travel between Sept. 15 and 23 of this year.

They added travellers scheduled to fly during that period can change their flight, free of charge, to another date between Sept. 8 and 14 and/or Sept. 24 and Nov. 30.

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“Rest assured that we will notify you of any impact to your flight itinerary in advance of your travel,” the company said.

For more information, travellers can call Air Canada at 1-888-247-2262 or 1-800-361-5373.

Air Canada pilots held information pickets at several airports in late August, including Pearson Airport in Mississauga. (Photo: Air Line Pilots Association X)

In late August, some 2,000 Air Canada pilots staged information pickets at Pearson and airports in Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg as they try to “secure a contract that reflects the value we bring to Air Canada,” a union leader said recently.

The carrier’s 5,400 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action if a collective agreement cannot be struck. The earliest they can go on strike is Sept. 17.

The pilots have been in contract negotiations since June 2023, with the wide wage gap between Canadian pilots and their counterparts in the U.S. one of the main issues. The pilots are working under pay rates and quality-of-life provisions negotiated in 2014, the union says.

Negotiations for a new agreement began in June 2023. Talks entered private mediation in January 2024 and lasted until June. The union says it filed a notice of dispute because the two sides were unable to reach a new collective agreement.

Air Canada has said it is still working to come to an agreement. The union hopes for a deal, too, according to its leaders.