Air Transat Pilots Set Strike for Dec. 10; Airline Begins Shutting Down Operations
by Daniel McCarthy
Photo: Shutterstock.com
A strike by the union that represents Air Transat pilots is likely to cause headaches for those traveling on the Canadian carrier this week.
The notice from the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), issued on Dec. 7, called for a strike to formally begin on Dec. 10 at 3 a.m. EST. ALPA has been negotiating a contract between Air Transit and the airline since January 2025. The union filed its strike noticed at the end of the latest 21-day cooling-off period, which started on Nov. 18. Of the 98% of eligible pilots who could vote, 99% voted in favor of a strike, ALPA said.
The airline, which is based in Montreal, said on Sunday that it would be forced to gradually shut down its operations over “the next three days” in order to prevent “a sudden, unplanned interruption” to its service because of the strike. The expectation from Air Transat is that cancellations will build throughout Monday “with a complete suspension by December 9.”
The airline operates just over 70 flights a day, on average. Its schedule includes nearly 300 nonstop flights per week from Canadian cities to destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Florida.
Air Transat is reaching out to all customers on impacted flights ahead of time. It has also issued a flexibility policy for customers traveling within the next five days, allowing them to change or postpone their flights without penalties, and has started repatriating passengers who are currently abroad.
“We understand that this situation may cause uncertainty and concern. Our priority is to remain transparent, to support you, and to answer any questions you may have,” Air Transat said in a message to its travelers on Sunday morning, adding that its goal is to reach an agreement before the strike formally started on Wednesday.
“Negotiations are ongoing, and our goal remains to reach an agreement so we can maintain our flights as much as possible and minimize disruptions for you,” it said.
