Air Canada Pilot Strike Update: ACTA Urges Feds to Intervene

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) is asking the federal government to step in and facilitate a resolution between Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

Last month, Air Canada’s pilots voted overwhelmingly in support of job action, putting them in a strike position as early as Sept. 18, 2024. The over 5,000 pilots, represented by ALPA, have been without a contract since last year.

As negotiations between the pilots and the carriers drag on, ALPA has expressed concern that the Canadian federal government may step in to end the labor dispute. Just last month, a federally mandated back-to-work directive ended the freight work stoppage, ordering CN and CPKC to resume operations.

While Ottawa so far seems reluctant to get involved in the Air Canada labor dispute (via Reuters), ACTA argues such interference is necessary for the health of the travel industry.

“Air Canada is the country’s largest airline, transporting up to 120,000 passengers per day. If its planes are grounded, the repercussions on the travel industry would be devastating,” ACTA said in a statement.

ACTA also pointed to other recent “significant travel disruptions,” arguing that Canadian travel businesses need a stable travel environment in order to thrive.

Whether or not the federal government does get involved in the dispute will likely come down to the strike’s impact on the overall economy. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who ordered an end to the rail dispute less than 17 hours after the lockout (via BNN Bloomberg), argued it was a necessary interference because the freight companies represent an effective duopoly.

An Air Canada strike might not represent the same degree of overall economic impact, but ACTA believes the travel industry’s long-term health should be taken into consideration.

“Our members are fielding calls from people across the country and throughout the world concerned about potential disruptions to their long-awaited travel plans and critical business trips. This uncertainty alone threatens our industry’s long-term growth. We urge the federal government to take swift action in support of a resolution that will safeguard travel plans and protect our sector’s stability,” said Wendy Paradis, president, ACTA.