87 per cent of Transat pilots have voted to ratify their latest letter of understanding with the carrier, their union said in a release on 12JUL.
The overwhelming show of support from the pilots comes as Transat is currently scheduled to resume operations on 30JUL after over a year on the ground.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global travel restrictions, and an extended negotiation between the government and our employer to secure much-needed assistance, this latest development is a positive sign for our members, and all Canadians, that a return to normalcy is closer than it has been since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Capt. Pierre Lessard for the Air Transat pilots in a statement from their union, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA.)
“We are happy our pilot membership has voted overwhelmingly in favour of this new agreement with the Company... (It) means over 470 pilots are finally able to get back to work after 16 months of being grounded.”
The statement did not provide any details about terms of the latest agreement between the carrier and its pilots.
In APR, Transat secured financial backing from Ottawa to the tune of $700 million to help survive and recover from the pandemic. The company has been vocal in calling on the government to provide airlines and the travel industry a plan for reopening Canada’s borders to allow for planning and the smooth resumption of service.
“The first recalls of pilots have already begun in order to start their training—as the resumption of flights continues to increase with each step forward with regards to the easing of travel restrictions,” said pilot representative Capt. Lessard.
“We anticipate it will still be several more weeks or even months before restrictions will be fully lifted, however, we echo ALPA Canada’s calls for the government to finally provide for more clarity on their travel and tourism restart plan, in order to ensure the successful recall and retraining of our pilots and other aviation workers across Canada. Providing ample time for a smooth transition will lead to the safest and most successful return to air travel as passenger loads return to prepandemic levels.”
