Air Canada and its pilots have reached a tentative agreement, and the airline is putting flights on sale to say thak you.
“To show appreciation for the patience and flexibility of its customers while they waited, Air Canada is offering a limited-time deal and other delightful surprises from now until September 18,” 2024, airline officials said.
Deal Alert!
- Air Canada is offering a 25% discount on new bookings and 2,500 bonus Aeroplan points from now until September 18. See here for more information.
Take Flight and Be Delighted
- Air Canada will also be surprising their customers at select airports across Canada to help them start their journeys off right with tokens of appreciation, including Aeroplan points, lounge vouchers, snacks, swag and more.
Business as Usual
- With Air Canada flights operating normally, customers who would like to change back to their original flight booking can now do so within the same cabin (subject to availability) – free of charge.
- For any customers who have questions about their bookings or need more support, visit aircanada.com/action.
It’s a smart decision, and very good public relations.
Air Canada’s Paris Summer Olympics 777 airplane. Air Canada Photo
In case you missed it, Air Canada and its pilots union shook hands on a tentative agreement on the weekend. It came as a huge relief to travellers, but the deal still has to be approved by union members, and there’s no guarantee that will happen.
The word on the street is that a lot of questions are being asked about specific parts of the deal, including what kind of improvements less experienced pilots will see. It’s expected that pilots will take a month or so to review the terms of the tentative deal before a vote is taken.
It’s worth noting that Air Transat flight attendants earlier this year twice rejected tentative deals with the company. If that happens with Air Canada’s pilots, the two sides would have to return to the bargaining table, and both consumers and advisors would be faced with more uncertainty.
The Air Line Pilot’s Association said the deal has a value of $1.9 billion and contains pay hikes of 41.7%. The Globe and Mail said pilots would receive a 26% pay raise that’s retroactive to last year, when the previous contract ran out. They also would receive 4% pay hikes in the next three years.
The tentative contract replaces one reached 10 years ago that provided raises of 2% a year.
“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,” First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council, said in a statement. “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.”
WestJet pilots represented by ALPA were given a four-year contract last year with a 24% pay hike, while Delta Air Lines last year gave its pilot a four-year deal with a 34% pay hike.
“We said we would stay engaged to reach a deal until the last minute and we are happy to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the contributions and professionalism of our pilots,” Air Canada said in a statement on 15SEP. “We want to thank the Minister of Labour and the whole Federal mediation and conciliation service for their support to both parties throughout the process. We also thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”
Of course, there are other unions at Air Canada, and no doubt they’ll try to aim for strong compensation in future negotiations. The Air Canada component of CUPE, which represents more than 10,000 flight attendants for Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, noted in April that its contract is up for negotiation next year.
CUPE earlier this year said it’s high time that Air Canada begins paying attendants for unpaid labour they’re required to perform. Attendants currently are paid after the doors close on a plane and aren’t paid for any work after the doors open upon landing, CUPE said.
