Air Canada is preparing for a major three-day shutdown should it fail to reach an agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association by the strike deadline just after midnight on Sunday.
If a 72-hour strike or lockout notice is issued by either party, the airline will progressively cancel flights over three days with a complete suspension of operations by Wednesday expected to impact more than 110,000 travellers.
Customers could see some cancellations begin as early as this Friday, including holiday packages, the airline warned.
Canada’s largest carrier said the parties “remain far apart” but it believes an agreement can be reached “provided ALPA moderates its wage demands which far exceed average Canadian wage increases.”
“We understand and apologize for the inconvenience this would cause our customers,” Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada, said in a statement. “However, a managed shutdown is the only responsible course available to us.”
ALPA did not immediately respond to the Star’s request for comment.
Customers whose flights are cancelled by Air Canada will be eligible for a full refund, the airline said. It has also been arranging with other carriers to fly its passengers, but seats are expected to be limited.
This is a developing story.
