Air Canada says it’s preparing for an “orderly shutdown” of flights beginning as early as September 15, 2024, in order to mitigate customer impact resulting from any potential labour disruption as the threat of a pilot strike draws closer.

In making the announcement, the airline has also extended its flexible booking policy for flights booked up until and including September 9, for travel between September 15–23, 2024.

Air Canada Extends Flexible Ticket Rebooking as Potential for Pilot Strike Grows Closer

Less than three weeks after Air Canada pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike, it appears the union representing the pilots is no closer to reaching a deal with the airline.

As a result, Air Canada has extended its flexible rebooking policy for flights purchased up until September 9, 2024 with original travel dates from September 15–23, 2024.

While flights are currently operating as scheduled, this policy allows passengers to proactively change their plans at no cost as the threat of a strike draws is now less than a week away.

Customers holding bookings on any fare type with travel between September 15 and 23, 2024, to do the following:

• A) rebook to any other Air Canada flight(s) with the same origin and destination up to November 30, 2024. Change fees and any other fees or fare difference will be waived, meaning such changes can be made at no cost for customers who choose to travel the same route in the same cabin.
• B) cancel their flight and retain the residual value on a future travel credit. Refunds will be available as per fare rules for customers with refundable tickets; for customers with non-refundable tickets, refunds are not available as flights are scheduled to operate as normal.
• C) cancel their flight and rebook travel for after November 30, 2024 in which case change fees will be waived but the customer will have to pay the fare difference, if any.

Customers looking to make any of the above changes, can do so online on the Air Canada website, through the Air Canada mobile app, with a travel agent, or by calling the Air Canada Contact Centre

The 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. Flights with Air Canada Express operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines are not flown by Air Canada pilots, and won’t be affected in the event of a strike.

Air Canada Finalizing Contingency Plans for Possible Shutdown

Air Canada says it is preparing to shut down most operations as early as Sunday September 15, 2024, as talks with the airline and the pilot union appear deadlocked over wages.

If the two sides are unable to reach a deal as of September 15, either party will be in a position to issue a 72-hour strike or lock out notice, which Air Canada says would trigger its three-day wind down plan.

In making what he calls an “extremely difficult decision”, Air Canada President & CEO Michael Rousseau says:

We understand and apologize for the inconvenience this would cause our customers. However, a managed shutdown is the only responsible course available to us. We are publicizing our plans to give the more than 110,000 people who travel with us each day greater certainty and the opportunity to reduce the risk of being stranded by using our goodwill policy to change or defer imminent travel at no cost. We are also alerting the Government of Canada to the potential disruption’s impact upon Canadians.

Air Canada Express flights will continue to operate, as third-party carriers Jazz and PAL Airlines provide these services. However, these regional partners only carry about 20-percent of Air Canada’s daily customers, many of whom ultimately connect on Air Canada flights.

First Officer Charlene Hudy, Chair of the Air Canada master executive council for ALPA responded harshly to the announcement by Air Canada.

In a written statement, Hudy told Prince of Travel the airline should “stop threatening to disrupt air travel and come to the bargaining table with serious proposals to keep the flagship Canadian carrier competitive in the global aviation market.”

Hudy says Air Canada should get back to the bargaining table and get serious about negotiating a contract that reflects the unique contributions of its pilots.

Conclusion

As the potential of a strike by its pilots draws closer, Air Canada is extending its flexible rebooking policy for flights purchased up until September 9, 2024 with original travel dates from September 15–23, 2024.

The goodwill policy allows customers holding bookings on any fare type with travel between those dates to make changes at no cost or to receive a credit for future travel.

Air Canada says it is preparing to gradually suspend flights beginning as early as Sunday September 15, 2024, in order to mitigate customer impact resulting from labour disruption. Pilots will be in a legal strike position as of September 17, 2024.

We continue to follow this story closely and will update you with any new developments.