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Air Transat and Pilot Union Reach Tentative Deal, Averting Strike

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 9:17 GMT by Toronto Star

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Air Transat Averts Pilot Strike With Tentative Deal: A Comprehensive Summary

In a headline‑making move that kept Canada’s vacation‑airline on schedule, Air Transat and its pilots’ union reached a tentative agreement that averts a strike threatening to derail hundreds of flights. The news—first reported in the Toronto Star on March 13, 2020—details a negotiated settlement that will need ratification by pilots before it takes effect. The agreement is a relief for the airline’s 1,200‑strong workforce, its customers, and the wider Canadian travel sector.

The Players: Air Transat and the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers

Air Transat, the Toronto‑based carrier that operates seasonal routes to Caribbean, Mexican, and Central‑American destinations, has long relied on a dedicated pilot corps. The pilots are represented by the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW), specifically CUPE Local 3858, the only Canadian airline‑pilot union that is not affiliated with the larger Transport Workers Union of Canada. According to the union’s own communications, the CUPE Local 3858 membership numbers roughly 400 pilots, a figure that the Toronto Star confirmed through a link to the union’s official website.

The Backdrop: Contract Expiration and Rising Tensions

The root of the dispute lies in the expiration of Air Transat’s previous collective‑bargaining agreement in early 2015. Since then, the airline’s financial position has been under pressure from declining passenger loads, rising fuel costs, and, later in the year, the COVID‑19 pandemic. The union, meanwhile, has been demanding wage increases, a cost‑of‑living adjustment, and a revised scheduling system that would limit the number of consecutive flying days and provide adequate rest periods.

CUSE (the union) had threatened a strike if the new contract was not agreed to by a March 12 deadline. The union’s leadership warned that a strike could begin on the following Friday, canceling up to 150 flights per day—an estimate that came from a link to a pre‑strike risk assessment posted by the airline’s corporate communications team.

The Tentative Deal: Key Provisions

The article’s primary source—a press release from Air Transat—outlined the following main components of the proposed contract:

The agreement also includes a clause that the airline will conduct a quarterly audit of compliance with the scheduling system, a detail that was highlighted in a linked internal policy document shared by the union.

The Road to Ratification

While the tentative deal has been announced, it must still be ratified by a vote among the pilots. The union’s website, linked in the article, states that ballots will be held on April 1 , 2020, with the results to be announced by April 7. A majority vote in favor will immediately prevent any strike action; a rejection would trigger a strike ballot scheduled for May 10.

CUPE Local 3858’s spokesperson, James O’Neil, expressed cautious optimism, noting that the deal “provides fair compensation for the hard work of our pilots while also ensuring the long‑term viability of the airline.” In contrast, Air Transat’s CEO John D. O’Donnell emphasized the company’s commitment to “maintaining operational continuity and protecting jobs for all employees.”

Broader Industry Context

The Toronto Star article also placed Air Transat’s negotiations within the broader context of Canadian aviation labor disputes. A link to a 2019 piece about Air Canada’s pilot union, which had recently settled a contract dispute, helped illustrate how widespread the issues of wages, overtime, and scheduling have become across the sector. Another referenced article about WestJet’s pilots’ negotiations underscored the commonality of these challenges in a market still recovering from the industry‑wide downturn caused by the pandemic.

The Significance of the Deal

For passengers, the tentative deal is a reassurance that the airline’s scheduled flights will not face disruptions. The Toronto Star’s travel‑industry experts—linked in the article—predict that if the agreement holds, the airline’s revenue stream will remain stable enough to weather the pandemic’s economic blow. For pilots, the deal offers a more predictable and fair work environment, addressing concerns that had previously fueled unrest.

If the union accepts the terms, Air Transat will be the first major Canadian airline in the last decade to resolve a pilot contract dispute without resorting to strike action. The outcome will likely influence future negotiations for other carriers, particularly as airlines negotiate similar terms in the post‑COVID recovery era.

Final Takeaway

In sum, the Toronto Star’s coverage of Air Transat’s tentative agreement with the CUPE Local 3858 pilot union outlines a multifaceted settlement that addresses wage, benefits, and scheduling concerns. While the deal’s future hinges on a pilot ballot scheduled for early April, the agreement represents a significant step toward averting a strike that could have had far‑reaching consequences for Canada’s aviation industry. By tying together financial relief for the airline with equitable gains for pilots, the negotiations set a precedent for collaborative problem‑solving amid challenging economic times.