Air Transat Pilots Next in Line to Fight for a New Contract
by Bruce Parkinson
Photo: sockagphoto / Shutterstock.com
After a contentious aviation labour scene in 2024 that saw WestJet mechanics throw a wrench in the Canada Day plans of thousands of travellers and Air Canada pilots take that airline to the brink of a strike, 2025 isn’t looking any more serene.
Air Transat pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have formally launched new contract negotiations. They’re looking for a contract similar to those negotiated by Air Canada and WestJet pilots, which both included pay increases over the length of the contracts topping 40%.
“We have a collective agreement that dates back to 2015. We will negotiate a contract that reflects the current standard within Canada’s aviation sector, similar to those recently negotiated by Air Canada and WestJet,” said Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair.
“Our pilot group is united, and we want management to know that we are ready to fight for a contract that addresses the concerns of our pilots and brings stability to our airline.”
The TS pilots who serve over 2.5 million passengers annually cite other issues aside from compensation, including employment protection, salary conditions, pilot group insurance, and retirement conditions. Small added: “The message to management is simple: We won’t back down; it’s a matter of respect.”
While TS pilots are looking for big paydays similar to Air Canada and WestJet, there are questions regarding Air Transat’s profitability, debt levels and ability to absorb significant cost increases. The company’s 2024 fiscal year ended October 31 with an improved fourth quarter, but overall profitability remains elusive.
Air Canada’s labour relations will soon return to the spotlight, as the Air Canada Component of CUPE representing 10,000 flight attendants at AC and Air Canada Rouge will be in a legal position to strike after the expiration of their collective agreement with the airline on March 31.
“The flight attendants, like the pilots, are coming out of a 10-year agreement,” CUPE said in a statement, “but otherwise the issues they are facing are different.” Union officials say unpaid work is one of the central problems with the current contract.
