Air Canada competitors say they’ll do what they can if there’s an AC lockout or strike. But they have to take care of their own business first.
Air Canada this week said it’s working with other airlines and will try to get space for AC pax if there’s a lockout or pilot’s strike, something the airline has said seems “increasingly likely.”
But Air Canada has more planes than WestJet, Porter, and Flair combined, and it will be very difficult for the carrier to find seats for all its passengers.
Porter Airlines’ spokesperson Brad Cicero told the Toronto Star the airline “may be able to make modest schedule additions, but our focus will be on using resources to operate the core flight schedule.”
Flair told the Financial Post that it’s adding flights to “essential, high-volume routes” to ensure as many additional passengers can get where they need to go in the event their plans are thwarted by Air Canada job action.
“As you can imagine, we’re preparing as best as we can for what looks to be an inevitability,” said Flair’s director of communications Kim Bowie.
In an email to the Post, WestJet said its focus remains on delivering air service to Canadians. It didn’t say if it will add additional flights to existing schedules, but it noted that fares purchased close to departure are typically higher than those booked in advance.
Air Canada says talks with the pilots’ union are continuing, but it appears the two sides are far apart.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge presently operate an average of close to 670 daily flights and carry more than 110,000 passengers within Canada or internationally.
Air Canada this week said customers will be notified by Air Canada or their travel agency if options for travel on another carrier are identified.
“Unfortunately, seats on other carriers are expected to be very limited across all airlines, and refunds or accepting a future travel credit, or agreeing to travel on Air Canada at a later date, may be the only options available,” officials said.
Air Canada has said flights, especially international long-haul routes, could be cancelled in the next couple of days as it begins an “orderly shutdown” to prepare for a possible lockout or pilot’s strike.
The Air Line Pilots Association says it will be in a legal strike position as of 18SEP. But Air Canada said it will begin its gradual shutdown on 15SEP.
Air Canada on 11SEP issued the following update on its website.
Air Canada is in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Our operations are not affected, and our flights are operating as scheduled. However, if you want to make alternate travel arrangements for your peace of mind, we implemented a policy on August 27, 2024, that allows you to change your flight for free if:
- You purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than September 9, 2024, for travel between September 15 and September 23, 2024.
If you're scheduled to travel during this period, you can retrieve your booking to change your flight, free of charge, to another date:
- between September 9 and September 14, 2024, and/or
- between September 24 and November 30, 2024.
