Air Canada has reiterated its commitment to securing a negotiated agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) as federal conciliation in their contract discussions concludes. The airline emphasized that despite the end of the conciliation process, operations will continue as normal, and a 21-day cooling-off period provides ample time to resolve remaining issues.
In a statement released today, Air Canada highlighted that significant progress has been made in negotiations and expressed optimism about reaching a settlement that acknowledges the professionalism and contributions of its pilots. The company stated, “Air Canada is fully committed to bargaining meaningfully throughout the [cooling-off] period.”
To address potential customer concerns regarding travel plans coinciding with the cooling-off period’s end on September 17, 2024, Air Canada introduced a flexible rebooking policy. This policy allows customers to change their travel plans at no additional cost, offering them peace of mind during this period of uncertainty.
Under the new policy, customers with bookings between September 15 and 23, 2024, can rebook their flights for any date up to November 30, 2024, without incurring change fees or fare differences, provided they maintain the same origin and destination. Alternatively, passengers can cancel their flights and retain the value for future travel credit, or rebook for travel after November 30, although any fare differences may apply.
The airline clarified that the policy applies to all Air Canada-operated flights, including those under its mainline, Rouge, Express, and Vacations brands. However, it was noted that Air Canada Express flights, operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, will not be affected by the ongoing negotiations, as they are flown by different pilots.
In addition to the rebooking options, certain special services, such as the Unaccompanied Minor Program and special baggage requests, will be temporarily unavailable. Customers requiring these services have been advised to check Air Canada’s website for further information.