Air Canada Introduces Flexible Rebooking Amid Potential Pilot Strike

Amid concerns over a possible pilots’ strike later this month, Air Canada is allowing passengers with September bookings to adjust their travel plans without penalty. With over 98% of the airline's pilots recently voting in favor of a strike, a mandatory 21-day cooling-off period, which ends on September 17, is currently in place.

Flexible Rebooking Options

In response to the uncertainty, Air Canada has introduced a goodwill policy offering flexibility to passengers traveling between September 15 and 23. Travelers can choose to:

• Rebook their flights for any date up to November 30, 2024, with the same origin and destination, without incurring any change fees or fare differences.
• Cancel their flight and receive a travel credit for future use, or a refund if they hold a refundable ticket. Non-refundable ticket holders will not be eligible for refunds as flights are still scheduled to operate.
• Cancel and rebook for travel after November 30, 2024, with change fees waived, though fare differences may apply.

This policy also covers passengers on Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines.

Pilots Vote for Strike

The potential strike follows a recent vote organized by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing over 5,400 Air Canada pilots, with more than 98% in favor of striking. The vote came after prolonged negotiations between the union and Air Canada management failed to produce a new contract. The dispute was formally filed with the Canadian Mediation and Conciliation Service in June 2024.

Cooling-Off Period

The 21-day cooling-off period provides an opportunity for both sides to return to the negotiating table. Air Canada has expressed its commitment to reaching a negotiated settlement, acknowledging the professionalism and contributions of its pilots. The airline remains hopeful that a resolution can be achieved before the cooling-off period ends, avoiding the need for a strike.