Sun Sep 15 02:48:30 UTC 2024: ## Air Canada Averts Shutdown with Last-Minute Pilot Agreement
**Montreal, Canada** – Air Canada has narrowly avoided a complete shutdown after reaching a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing over 5,000 pilots. The deal comes just hours before the airline was set to begin a three-day wind-down of operations, triggered by the threat of a pilot strike.
The four-year agreement, the details of which remain undisclosed, will be subject to a ratification vote by pilots in the coming month. Air Canada stated the deal “recognizes the contributions and professionalism” of its pilots while providing a framework for future growth.
Negotiations had been strained with ALPA demanding a significant pay increase of around 45% to achieve pay parity with US-based airlines like Delta. Air Canada had offered a 30% raise, arguing that Canadian labor markets differed from those in the US.
The potential strike, which could have affected over 110,000 passengers daily, prompted Air Canada to implement a goodwill policy allowing affected passengers to rebook flights at no extra cost. With the tentative agreement reached, these passengers can now revert to their original flight plans.
Despite initial pleas for federal intervention, the government declined to force binding arbitration. Instead, last-minute negotiations resulted in a resolution that will allow Air Canada to continue operating without interruption.
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