Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat announced on 7 December that it will progressively ground its entire network on 8 and 9 December after its 700 pilots – represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – served a 72-hour strike notice. Unless a last-minute deal is struck, the walk-out could legally begin at 03:00 ET on 10 December.
Why this matters for France. Air Transat is the second-largest foreign airline operating between Canada and France, with winter routes linking Paris-CDG, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse to Montréal, Toronto and Québec City. More than 20,000 seats are scheduled during the affected two-day window; many are peak-season family visits and corporate trips that rely on onward TGV and short-haul connections within France. Corporate mobility teams moving staff between French and Canadian sites will face re-routing headaches and potential project delays.
![Air Transat suspends flights as pilots issue strike notice, disrupting France-Canada travel]()
Negotiations and contingency plans. Management says it has already offered a 59 % pay rise over five years and improvements to scheduling, but ALPA argues the proposal still lags North-American benchmarks. To avoid passengers and crews being stranded overseas, the airline will proactively cancel flights and provide re-accommodation options on partner carriers such as Air France and WestJet. Travel managers should monitor reissue policies, ensure assignees obtain written confirmations for expense claims, and anticipate longer transit times via alternative hubs (e.g., Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Lisbon).
Broader implications. The dispute highlights ongoing wage-inflation pressure in the aviation sector and the vulnerability of trans-Atlantic capacity during the winter shoulder season. French airports may see knock-on congestion as stranded travellers are rebooked, while Canadian immigration authorities could face overflow at Toronto and Montréal if passengers converge there for onward flights. Employers should review duty-of-care protocols, particularly for time-critical roles and workers travelling with short-stay visas that could expire if trips are extended.
Looking ahead. Both sides remain at the bargaining table; if a deal is reached before 10 December, Air Transat says it could restart operations within 24 hours. Mobility managers are advised to keep flexible tickets through mid-December and brief travellers on their rights under EU261 and Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
Why this matters for France. Air Transat is the second-largest foreign airline operating between Canada and France, with winter routes linking Paris-CDG, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse to Montréal, Toronto and Québec City. More than 20,000 seats are scheduled during the affected two-day window; many are peak-season family visits and corporate trips that rely on onward TGV and short-haul connections within France. Corporate mobility teams moving staff between French and Canadian sites will face re-routing headaches and potential project delays.
Negotiations and contingency plans. Management says it has already offered a 59 % pay rise over five years and improvements to scheduling, but ALPA argues the proposal still lags North-American benchmarks. To avoid passengers and crews being stranded overseas, the airline will proactively cancel flights and provide re-accommodation options on partner carriers such as Air France and WestJet. Travel managers should monitor reissue policies, ensure assignees obtain written confirmations for expense claims, and anticipate longer transit times via alternative hubs (e.g., Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Lisbon).
Broader implications. The dispute highlights ongoing wage-inflation pressure in the aviation sector and the vulnerability of trans-Atlantic capacity during the winter shoulder season. French airports may see knock-on congestion as stranded travellers are rebooked, while Canadian immigration authorities could face overflow at Toronto and Montréal if passengers converge there for onward flights. Employers should review duty-of-care protocols, particularly for time-critical roles and workers travelling with short-stay visas that could expire if trips are extended.
Looking ahead. Both sides remain at the bargaining table; if a deal is reached before 10 December, Air Transat says it could restart operations within 24 hours. Mobility managers are advised to keep flexible tickets through mid-December and brief travellers on their rights under EU261 and Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
