Air Transat pilots issue strike notice as contract talks stall, flights set to wind down early next week

Air Transat travellers are being told to prepare for significant disruption after the union representing the airline’s 750 pilots served a 72-hour strike notice. The Air Line Pilots Association says its members will walk off the job Wednesday morning unless contract talks with Transat A.T. Inc. show meaningful progress.

The notice follows nearly a year of negotiations and a 21-day cooling-off period that ends December 10, the first day pilots can legally strike or the company can issue a lockout. Transat says it is continuing round-the-clock discussions but warned that flight operations will begin winding down on Monday to prevent passengers from becoming stranded.

The pilots voted 99 per cent in favour of job action last week, with almost all eligible members casting ballots. The union says it is seeking improvements to job security, scheduling, pay and overall working conditions, arguing that the current contract lags behind similar agreements at other Canadian carriers.

The potential strike is expected to affect passengers across the country, including those travelling through Vancouver and Calgary on winter holiday routes that Air Transat typically operates. The company has advised customers to monitor their flight status and prepare for possible cancellations or rebooking.