Air Canada offers rebooking flexibility for flights around possible strike date
The airline says progress has been made in its negotiations, but it still faces the possibility of a strike as early as Sept. 17
Air Canada is providing passengers with greater flexibility to rebook their flights due to a potential pilot strike next month.
The airline has made progress in negotiations and aims to reach a deal, but it still faces the risk of a strike by its 5,400 pilots as early as September 17.
“Air Canada’s intention remains to reach a negotiated settlement with its pilots, one that recognizes their professionalism and contributions to the airline,” the company said in a press release. “However, certainty about their travel plans is important to customers.”
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has not set a strike date, but pilots have overwhelmingly approved a strike mandate if a new contract is not agreed upon.
Under Air Canada’s policy, customers with tickets for travel between September 15 and 23 can rebook on any Air Canada flight with the same origin and destination up to November 30 at no additional cost. Those who wish to cancel and rebook after that date will have their change fees waived but will need to pay any fare difference.
Travelers with bookings during this period can also cancel their flights and receive a credit for future travel.
Refunds will be available for customers with refundable tickets, but Air Canada says refunds will not be offered for non-refundable tickets as the flights are scheduled to operate normally.
This policy applies to all Air Canada-operated flights, including Air Canada mainline, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, and Air Canada Vacations.
Air Canada Pilots to Hold Pickets at Airports
The pilots, who have been negotiating with Air Canada since June 2023 with a federal conciliator overseeing the talks, will hold “informational pickets” on Tuesday afternoon following their overwhelming vote in favor of a strike.
The pickets will take place at Vancouver International Airport (11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT), Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET), Winnipeg International Airport (1 p.m. to 2 p.m. CT), and Toronto Pearson Airport’s Terminal One (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET).
“Our goal is to reach an agreement; however, our employer continues to push us closer to a strike position by not addressing our needs at the negotiating table regarding fair compensation, respectable retirement benefits, and quality-of-life improvements,” said Charlene Hudy, chair of ALPA’s Air Canada Master Executive Council.
“After more than a year of negotiations, management must now realize that if they fail to reach an agreement, they will be responsible for us withdrawing our services.”
