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Air Transat says it will gradually shut down operations over the next three days in response to a 72-hour strike mandate issued by the union representing its pilots.
In a statement issued shortly after the mandate was announced by the union on Sunday morning, the Montreal-based airline published a statement of its own, calling the strike notice “premature.”
Air Transat said there has been progress in contract negotiations and that it’s made “generous” contract offers. Both the union and the airline say they may come to an agreement before a strike, which could begin as early as Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET.
“This notice requires the company to proactively implement an action plan and proceed with the gradual and orderly suspension of its operations over the next three days to prevent the consequences of a sudden, unplanned interruption,” the airline said in the statement.
Air Transat says it will begin suspending flights on Monday, followed by a “complete suspension” on Tuesday. It will also begin repatriating passengers “to prevent them from being stranded abroad if the strike occurs. The goal is to bring back everyone to their point of origin,” the airline said.
The union representing Air Transat pilots has issued a 72-hour strike notice, meaning pilots could be on strike as early as Wednesday. In response, the airline says it will gradually shut down operations over the next three days.
According to online flight radar tracker FlightConnections.com, Air Transat services 10 domestic destinations and 63 international destinations in 33 countries. The airline itself says its flights are mainly to Europe, the Caribbean, the east coast of the United States, South America and North Africa.
The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) said the airline had left it “no choice” but to issue the strike mandate.
“Months of unproductive bargaining ends now. If we cannot reach an agreement, management will be responsible for every cancelled flight and stranded passengers,” said Capt. Bradley Small, chair of the Air Transat Master Executive Council, which is represented by the ALPA.
Small said that “there is still time to avoid a strike” but that unless significant progress is made before Wednesday, “we will strike if that’s what it takes to achieve a modern contract.”
Customer ‘scared and stressed’
Some travellers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport were left worrying about their return plans as they prepared to leave for the Dominican Republic.
“I’m afraid that I won’t be able to come back home,” Clara Yoon told CBC News Network.
Yoon, who was planning to return next week when a strike could be in effect, said the timing of the news was frustrating.
“It was definitely a shocker when I first found out. Now I’m a bit more scared and stressed, when I’m trying to go and relax somewhere.”
Sylvia Chen said she considered cancelling her trip, but decided to buy return flights from another airline instead.
Some took the news in stride.
Robert Rowarth told CBC News Network he’s not concerned about a possible strike.
“What are you gonna do?” he said.
“They’re flying today, so I’m good to get there. And if I have to make other arrangements to get back, I make other arrangements.”
Negotiations between the ALPA and the airline began in January, three months before the collective agreement was set to expire. At issue are industry-standard pay, benefits, work rules and job security to replace their current 2015 agreement.
Air Transat says it will begin suspending flights on Monday, followed by a complete suspension on Tuesday in response to a 72-hour strike mandate issued by the union representing its pilots.
A press secretary for Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu said the minister “is monitoring the situation closely” and urges both sides to come to an agreement.
“We understand how the situation can be stressful for Canadians as the holidays approach,” Jennifer Kozelj said in an email to CBC News. “Federal mediators continue to work with the parties. Canadians are counting on all parties.”
Passengers could get compensated, group says
Air Passenger Rights, an advocacy organization, said passengers may be entitled to up to $1,000 in compensation if their flight is cancelled by Air Transat before a strike has begun and within 14 days of the flight itself.
The organization has published on its website a list of rights that passengers are entitled to by law in response to Air Transat’s announcement that it would suspend flights.
The group said it’s not accurate for the airline to suggest that the suspension of flights is caused by labour disruptions. Rather, it said, the disruptions “are akin to the airline deciding not to operate a flight for purely economic reasons (e.g., insufficient number of seats sold).”