Just three months after the last Canadian airline strike brought travel plans to a halt, we’re on the verge of an untimely sequel.
What happened: Montreal-based Air Transat will start suspending its flights today and gradually shut down its operations over the next two days ahead of a looming pilot strike.
If a new deal isn’t reached between the two sides, the carrier’s 400 pilots can go on strike as early as 3 a.m. on Wednesday.
Why it matters: We’re in the thick of one of the busiest travel periods of the year, especially for the sunshine destinations Air Transat primarily flies to. Even a brief pilot strike would scramble Canadians’ holiday vacation plans.
The president of Air Passenger Rights says that if Air Transat can’t or won’t rebook your flight, buy a ticket on another airline and then file a claim to make Air Transat pay for it later.
Zoom out: The potential strike is yet another problem Air Transat really doesn’t need right now. The airline is already struggling to pay off a $334 million government loan from the pandemic, and management is battling an activist investor for control of the company. Something tells us there will be no ‘coasting until the new year’ at Air Transat HQ.