Air Canada pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), picketed at Toronto's Pearson Airport (YYZ) on 30SEP, demanding better wages and improved working conditions.
The protest coincided with the expiration of their nine-year agreement. According to CBC News, Charlene Hudy, leader of the Air Canada segment, cited a growing wage gap with U.S. counterparts, noting United Airlines pilots will soon earn 92% more. While U.S. airline pilots recently secured 34-40% pay hikes, Air Canada pilots have seen only a 2% annual raise since 2014. Both sides remain in talks, with Air Canada committed to a "fair" resolution.
After 1,800 pilots at WestJet and its subsidiary Swoop ratified a new agreement, aligning their pay scales and granting a 24% wage increase over four years, Swoop is set to shut down by the end of OCT. This landmark deal is expected to raise pilot salaries closer to U.S. levels, increasing costs for airlines recovering from pandemic-related losses. At the same time, Air Canada negotiations occur amidst fierce competition from ultra-low-cost carriers like Flair Airlines and Lynx Air, exacerbated by ongoing labour shortages in the aviation sector.
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