Air Canada could start cancelling flights imminently ahead of strike deadline

Air Canada may soon begin winding down operations and canceling flights ahead of a potential strike, as the Sunday strike deadline looms.

If the union representing Air Canada's pilots doesn't reach a negotiated agreement to prevent a strike or shutdown, the federal government should be ready to impose binding arbitration or force the pilots back to work, according to a group representing small businesses. This statement came Friday morning.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents Air Canada's pilots, announced that it would meet with the airline on Friday in an effort to finalize a deal.

“We continue to meet with Air Canada today in an effort to reach a new contract at the negotiating table, and avoid legal job action and the effects of that on our passengers,” said First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA master executive council, in a statement to Global News.

If no agreement is reached by Sunday, either Air Canada or ALPA, representing 5,200 pilots, could issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) urged both parties to ensure flight services remain operational and to find a resolution at the bargaining table.

Dan Kelly, CFIB president, stated, “If Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association can’t reach an agreement, the federal government must be prepared to step in and impose binding arbitration or back-to-work legislation. It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure small businesses and the economy don’t face another costly disruption to Canada’s transportation network.”

The Canadian and U.S. Chambers of Commerce, along with the Business Council of Canada, issued a joint statement emphasizing the potential impact on cross-border travel and trade.

"Every year, millions of Canadians and Americans travel by air, along with critical, time-sensitive goods. The Government of Canada must act swiftly to avoid another labor disruption that would harm both people and businesses," the statement said.

Several business, industry, and tourism groups have called on the federal government to intervene before a strike or lockout disrupts air travel.

Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau, in a statement on Monday, noted that there was still time to reach an agreement but warned of the potential chaos. “Canadians have recently seen the chaos abrupt airline shutdowns cause for travellers, which obliges us to do everything we can to protect our customers from an increasingly likely work stoppage.”

If a 72-hour notice is issued after Sunday, operations could be fully halted by Wednesday, Sept. 18. However, Air Canada indicated that the process of winding down operations may begin as early as Friday.

Rousseau also noted that 80 per cent of Air Canada’s passengers could be impacted by a work stoppage. The airline plans to initiate an “orderly shutdown” of both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge services should a strike or lockout notice be issued.

Former Air Canada chief operating officer Duncan Dee told Global News that Air Canada would begin positioning aircraft closer to their bases, where crews and mechanics would be available to maintain them during the disruption. This approach would help restart operations more quickly with minimal impact on travelers.

While Air Canada Express flights will continue to operate, these services are provided by third-party carriers Jazz and PAL Airlines, covering only about 20 per cent of Air Canada’s daily customers. Many passengers on these regional flights ultimately connect to Air Canada services.

A work stoppage could affect as many as 110,000 passengers daily.

On Thursday, ALPA established a “strike headquarters” near Toronto Pearson International Airport to support its members in the event of a strike. Last month, pilots overwhelmingly voted to approve a strike mandate if a new contract couldn’t be reached.

First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA master executive council, said, “Rather than taking shots at the professional pilots who safely transport their passengers day in and day out, Air Canada should stop threatening to disrupt air travel and come to the bargaining table with serious proposals to keep the flagship Canadian carrier competitive in the global aviation market.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has stated that his party would “never support” back-to-work legislation. Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking earlier in Ottawa, called for a “fair deal” and urged Air Canada to negotiate in “good faith” with the union.