Air Transat pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have formally begun new contract negotiations with the airline’s management.
According to a statement issued by ALPA on January 6, 2025, Air Transat Master Executive Council (MEC) officially notified Air Transat management last week about their intention to negotiate. ALPA union represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 US and Canadian airlines.
“We have a collective agreement that dates back to 2015,” said Bradley Small, Chair of Air Transat MEC. “We will negotiate a contract that reflects the current standard within Canada’s aviation sector, similar to those recently negotiated by Air Canada and WestJet.”
The Transat pilots have tasked their elected leadership and pilot negotiators with addressing several issues, including employment protection, salary conditions, pilot group insurance, and retirement conditions.
ALPA claims these have fallen behind other Canadian air carriers, “lacking career progression and improved quality-of-life provisions.”
“Our pilots are united and ready to stand for a contract that delivers for us and secures the future of our airline,” Small added. “The message to management is simple: We won’t back down; it’s a matter of respect.”
Initial discussions regarding the new contract began in December 2024 after Transat A.T., the parent company of Air Transat, disclosed its earnings for the fourth quarter of that year.
On December 12, 2024, Transat A.T. announced that in the fourth quarter of 2024, the company’s revenues reached $788.8 million, up 3.2% from $764.5 million in the corresponding period last year.
Following this announcement, Air Transat pilots expressed their readiness to begin negotiations at the start of 2025, stating they were “unified” in their approach.
“We want to remind management of the negative impact of prolonged negotiations with the flight attendants and mechanics,” Small said at the time.
Air Transat reported that its pilots serve over 2.5 million passengers annually, operating flights to nearly 60 destinations across 30 countries.
