Air Canada prepares to shut down as talks with pilots union near deadlock
Air Canada is finalizing plans to suspend most of its operations, likely beginning Sunday, as talks with the pilot union are nearing an impasse over “inflexible” wage demands, the country’s largest airline said on Monday.
Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, operate nearly 670 flights daily. Unless they reach a settlement with the union, the shutdown could affect 110,000 passengers daily, causing widespread disruptions.
The airline’s pilots have been pushing to close the salary gap with their U.S. peers, who managed to strike lucrative labor deals in 2023 amid pilot shortages and strong travel demand.