Montreal-based Air Transat and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached a tentative five-year agreement late on 10 December 2025, just hours before pilots could legally walk off the job. The deal ends a tense standoff that had already triggered a controlled shutdown plan and the cancellation of dozens of flights.
While full terms remain confidential pending member ratification, earlier company proposals included wage increases of up to 59% and improved scheduling rules. Immediate operational recovery began on 11 December, with long-haul services to Europe and the Caribbean prioritised to avoid holiday-season chaos.
In the midst of monitoring such airline labour developments, firms often overlook visa and entry-requirement planning. VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers an integrated dashboard that lets mobility teams research visa rules, submit applications and receive real-time status updates—especially useful when rerouting travellers to alternative carriers or destinations during sudden disruptions.
![Air Transat Strikes Tentative Deal With Pilots, Flights Resume After Strike Scare]()
For global-mobility teams, the agreement averts significant travel disruption for assignees and rotational workers who rely on Air Transat’s transatlantic network. The episode does, however, highlight rising labour-cost pressures across Canada’s aviation sector following a cascade of 2025 labour disputes at Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing.
Travel managers should update risk matrices to reflect potential last-minute industrial actions and ensure traveller-tracking systems capture airline-specific alerts. Contract clauses for re-routing and duty-of-care obligations may need review before the 2026 peak season.
ALPA will hold a ratification vote within two weeks. If rejected, a new 72-hour strike notice could revive the dispute, though observers believe the competitive package will pass comfortably.
While full terms remain confidential pending member ratification, earlier company proposals included wage increases of up to 59% and improved scheduling rules. Immediate operational recovery began on 11 December, with long-haul services to Europe and the Caribbean prioritised to avoid holiday-season chaos.
In the midst of monitoring such airline labour developments, firms often overlook visa and entry-requirement planning. VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers an integrated dashboard that lets mobility teams research visa rules, submit applications and receive real-time status updates—especially useful when rerouting travellers to alternative carriers or destinations during sudden disruptions.
For global-mobility teams, the agreement averts significant travel disruption for assignees and rotational workers who rely on Air Transat’s transatlantic network. The episode does, however, highlight rising labour-cost pressures across Canada’s aviation sector following a cascade of 2025 labour disputes at Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing.
Travel managers should update risk matrices to reflect potential last-minute industrial actions and ensure traveller-tracking systems capture airline-specific alerts. Contract clauses for re-routing and duty-of-care obligations may need review before the 2026 peak season.
ALPA will hold a ratification vote within two weeks. If rejected, a new 72-hour strike notice could revive the dispute, though observers believe the competitive package will pass comfortably.
