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9/15 Update: Air Canada's shut down has been averted by a last-minute four-year agreement with the ALPA pilots' union that represents a 46 percent increase over the contract that expired September 2023. Air Canada flights will operate as scheduled.
Air Canada is planning for a potential shut down due to the impasse in its labor negotiations with its pilots, via the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). If Air Canada and the ALPA don't reach agreement by September 15, 2024, either party may issue a 72-hour strike or lockout notice, which would trigger the airline's three-day wind-down plan. CEO Michael Rousseau explained the potential shutdown as a way to give early notice to passengers:
“We are publicizing our plans to give the more than 110,000 people who travel with us each day greater certainty and opportunity to reduce the risk of being stranded by using our goodwill policy to change or defer imminent travel at no cost. We are also alerting the Government of Canada to the potential disruption's impact upon Canadians.”
If Air Canada or the ALPA issue a 72-hour strike or lockout notice, Air Canada would progressively cancel flights until the airline is completely shut down on September 18. The shut down does not impact Air Canada Express, as these regional flights are outsourced to Jazz and PAL Airlines, who are not involved in the ALPA dispute.
Who Can Change Their Flights Free of Charge
Air Canada is offering a free flight change to passengers who purchased an Air Canada flight or redeemed Aeroplan points for an Air Canada flight no later than 9/9/24, for travel between 9/15-9/23/24. Flights can be changed free of charge to another flight:
- between September 9 and September 14, 2024, and/or
- between September 24 and November 30, 2024
An alternative is to cancel the flight and receive future travel credit (but carefully note the expiration date, as future travel credits do expire).
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Who Can Get a Refund?
Note that only free flight changes are permitted; Air Canada isn't offering a refund back to your original form of payment unless Air Canada cancels your flight. See the Air Canada page.
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