The conciliation period has ended with Air Canada pilots and the airline unable to reach an agreement, setting the stage for a possible strike to begin in 21 days.
On Tuesday, pilots across the country held “informational pickets” to show management that workers are “united to secure a contract.”
Negotiations between the airline and the union began over a year ago, with the federal government appointing a conciliator in June to expedite the process. However, as Tuesday’s deadline approached, the union representing over 5,400 pilots voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike. Now, a 21-day cooling-off period will take place before a possible strike can begin Sept. 17.
It’s not the first time in recent month that Canadians have faced travel disruptions. In June, the country’s second-largest carrier, WestJet, cancelled over 1,000 flights due to an aircraft mechanics strike.
Here’s what you need to know as the 21-day cooling-off period begins:
Goodwill Rebooking Policy
Air Canada usually offers various ticket types, depending on your preferred method of travel, from Basic tickets to Business class packages.
During normal circumstances, passengers could request an “anytime” flight change up to two hours before departure through Air Canada’s website or by calling their reservations line. However, for Basic-class tickets, that privilege was not allowed.
Now, the airline has introduced a new policy known as the “Goodwill Rebooking Policy.”
Effective today, travellers who have Air Canada flights booked for after the Sept. 17 cooling-off period can modify their existing travel plans at no additional cost up until Nov. 30.
Additionally, those who wish to cancel their flights can do so and retain the value on a future travel credit. However refunds, will only be available for customers with refundable tickets .
The policy applies to all Air Canada-operated flights, including Air Canada mainline, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL Airlines, and Air Canada Vacations.
