Air Transat has begun cancelling flights as the deadline for a possible pilot strike approaches, with job action now possible as early as Wednesday.
The airline received a 72-hour strike notice from the pilots’ union on Sunday, meaning a legal strike could begin early Wednesday morning if a deal is not reached.
While Air Transat initially said flight suspensions could start Monday, the first wave of cancellations rolled out Tuesday as part of what it calls a gradual and orderly shutdown of operations.
Most of the early cancellations are centred on flights operating out of major hubs, including Montreal and Toronto, which make up a significant portion of Air Transat’s international network.
In a late update Monday night, Air Transat confirmed that the strike notice forced the company to activate an action plan that includes cancelling selected flights, repositioning aircraft and operating repatriation flights to bring travellers back to Canada ahead of potential widespread disruptions.
The union representing pilots, the Air Line Pilots Association, says negotiations with the airline have continued, but no deal has been finalized. If talks fail, a strike could formally begin Wednesday, disrupting flights across the airline’s global network.
Air Transat says some flights will continue to operate for now, but additional cancellations are expected as the situation evolves.
A public list of cancelled flights is being updated regularly on the airline’s website.
The company says its priority is to return as many passengers as possible before any full-scale shutdown occurs. It has also launched a special repatriation program and added extra capacity on select flights to help stranded travellers return to Canada.
Customers with upcoming departures are being advised to closely monitor their flight status, especially over the next 48 hours.
Air Transat also warns that call centre wait times are longer than usual and asks travellers to call only if their return travel is scheduled for December 12 or earlier.
Negotiations between the airline and the pilots’ union remain ongoing, with both sides continuing talks in an effort to reach an agreement before the strike deadline.
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