Air Transat, one of Canada’s largest airlines, has announced that it will begin gradually suspending flights starting Monday. This decision comes as the airline braces for a possible pilots’ strike scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

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Pilots Issue 72-Hour Strike Notice

On Sunday, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued a formal 72-hour strike notice. If no agreement is reached by mid-week, the airline’s 750 pilots will stop reporting for duty.
Union representatives said the notice was necessary after nearly a year of stalled negotiations.

Airline Calls Strike Notice “Premature”

Air Transat criticized the union’s move, calling the strike notice “premature” and insisting progress had been made at the bargaining table.
Despite this, the airline confirmed that all flights will be suspended by Tuesday to prevent any abrupt disruptions that could leave passengers, crew members, and aircraft stranded abroad.

Pilots Demand Industry-Standard Pay and Job Security

Pilots are pushing for a contract that reaches industry-standard pay, benefits, and job protections, replacing their existing agreement from 2015.
Capt Bradley Small, a leader within the pilots’ association, accused management of failing to negotiate effectively:

“No pilot wants to strike, but Air Transat management has left us no choice.”

The union said 99% of pilots voted in favor of authorizing strike action.

Air Transat Says It Negotiated in Good Faith

Julie Lamontagne, Air Transat’s human resources officer, argued that the airline has made “generous offers” and has been negotiating in good faith. She said the union’s strike decision shows “indifference toward Transat” and does not reflect the progress already made.

Previous Strike Threat Averted in 2024

This isn’t the first labor dispute Air Transat has faced. In 2024, the airline’s flight dispatchers also voted overwhelmingly to strike, but that action was ultimately avoided after last-minute negotiations.

Conclusion

As Air Transat prepares to suspend all flights, thousands of passengers may face disruptions in the coming days. With both sides accusing each other of bad faith negotiations, the next 48 hours will determine whether Canada’s third-largest airline faces a full-scale strike or reaches a long-awaited agreement. Travelers are advised to monitor airline updates closely as the situation evolves.