Air Transat passengers face uncertainty as pilots move closer to a strike

How is a potential Air Transat pilot strike going to affect operations at YXU? CTV’s Reta Ismail finds out.

Two Air Transat flights departed London International Airport for the Caribbean over the weekend, but a looming pilot strike could soon impact travellers.

Scott McFadzean, president and CEO of London International Airport, says the winter travel season has aircraft operating at or near capacity.

“The flights this time of year are always full and our sun destinations are extremely popular both with Air Transat and Sunwing. So they’re usually full flights. So could be upwards of, you know, 180 plus people on each flight that would be affected if it does get cancelled,” McFadzean said.

In a statement to CTV News, Air Transat said overnight negotiations with the union representing its pilots made progress. The airline added it hopes to reach an agreement and that it is now up to the union to consider its “generous offer.”

Capt. Tim Perry, president of ALPA Canada, said the offer must be examined carefully.

“I’m glad that they are characterizing their offer as generous, but really, that requires scrutiny and analysis on both sides and compromise. And that’s what we’re doing. We are working through all of the outstanding issues at the table. I mean, I think oversimplifying it doesn’t really help anybody.”

Air Transat says all flights remain on schedule and the airline is launching a special program to return travellers early, adding four extra flights to bring home passengers originally scheduled to return on Dec. 10.

Meanwhile, the Air Line Pilots Association has issued a 72-hour strike notice, officially setting the stage for job action. The union says pilots have been negotiating for nearly a year, seeking industry-standard pay, benefits and job security to replace their 2015 agreement.

Earlier this month, 99 per cent of Air Transat’s 750 pilots voted to authorize a strike.

“We don’t want to go on strike. We want to work. We absolutely care about people and where they want to go,” Perry said.

Labour relations expert Geraint Harvey of Western University says both sides have significant risks if the dispute escalates.

“Neither party wants to go on strike. It’s not good for pilots, it’s not good for the airline. So if I was a betting person, I’m not, but if I was, I would see this being resolved prior to that deadline. It’s clearly having an impact now because people are… possibly put off from taking flights with Air Transat,” Harvey said.

If a strike occurs, airports say there is little they can do. Passengers are urged to monitor the Air Transat website or mobile app for the latest updates.