Canadian leisure airline Air Transat and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached a tentative labour agreement on 10 December, narrowly avoiding a walkout that had threatened to ground trans-Atlantic and sun-destination services during the northern-winter peak.
The union had issued a 72-hour strike notice, prompting Air Transat to cancel select flights, but operations are now resuming. Although details remain confidential until members vote, earlier proposals included a cumulative 59 per cent wage increase over five years and improved scheduling provisions.
While the carrier does not fly to Australia, it carries a sizeable share of Australians on onward itineraries from Vancouver or Los Angeles to ski resorts in Quebec and Colorado, and on Europe–Canada circuits booked through codeshare partners. Had the strike proceeded, travellers would have faced re-routing amid an already constrained North-American capacity environment.
![Air Transat strike averted as pilots clinch last-minute deal—good news for Australian ski holidaymakers]()
Should itinerary changes require unexpected transit points or additional stopovers, travellers may also need updated visas or electronic travel authorisations. VisaHQ can quickly clarify requirements for Australian passport holders and process applications online—covering Canadian eTAs, U.S. ESTA renewals, Schengen visas and more—at https://www.visahq.com/australia/.
Corporate travel managers with staff heading to Montreal for the global gaming and AI conferences in January can proceed with original plans but should monitor the ratification vote. Tickets issued on Qantas or Air Canada stock but operated by Air Transat will be honoured under the existing interline agreements once the deal is finalised.
The episode is a reminder that North-American pilot labour unrest remains a volatility factor. Organisations should maintain contingency budgets for last-minute fare hikes and consider alternative airlines on critical routes.
The union had issued a 72-hour strike notice, prompting Air Transat to cancel select flights, but operations are now resuming. Although details remain confidential until members vote, earlier proposals included a cumulative 59 per cent wage increase over five years and improved scheduling provisions.
While the carrier does not fly to Australia, it carries a sizeable share of Australians on onward itineraries from Vancouver or Los Angeles to ski resorts in Quebec and Colorado, and on Europe–Canada circuits booked through codeshare partners. Had the strike proceeded, travellers would have faced re-routing amid an already constrained North-American capacity environment.
Should itinerary changes require unexpected transit points or additional stopovers, travellers may also need updated visas or electronic travel authorisations. VisaHQ can quickly clarify requirements for Australian passport holders and process applications online—covering Canadian eTAs, U.S. ESTA renewals, Schengen visas and more—at https://www.visahq.com/australia/.
Corporate travel managers with staff heading to Montreal for the global gaming and AI conferences in January can proceed with original plans but should monitor the ratification vote. Tickets issued on Qantas or Air Canada stock but operated by Air Transat will be honoured under the existing interline agreements once the deal is finalised.
The episode is a reminder that North-American pilot labour unrest remains a volatility factor. Organisations should maintain contingency budgets for last-minute fare hikes and consider alternative airlines on critical routes.
