Air Transat Pilots Call for a Modern Contract as Decade-Old Agreement Expires

TOP STORY

MONTREAL — Today marks the expiration of the Air Transat pilots’ collective agreement that had been in place for over 10 years. Over the last decade, the Air Transat pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have twice put their needs on hold to help their employer—first through the failed merger attempt with Air Canada and later through the effort to restart the airline following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilots are now asking for their sacrifices to be rewarded and reflected in a modern collective agreement that reflects the economic reality of today’s aviation industry.

News Room – ALPA

Decisions

• Appeal, class action, accommodation of disability, motion to strike – WestJet v. Gauthier, 2025 BCCA 134 Plaintiffs were persons who used wheelchairs – brought proposed class action against WestJet and Air Canada regarding additional charges on international flights for extra seating or space required to accommodate disabilities – B.C. Supreme Court dismissed WestJet’s application to strike claim for lack of jurisdiction and failure of pleadings to disclose reasonable cause of action – WestJet appealed – B.C. Court of Appeal found that plaintiff’s claim not based on right arising from Canada Transportation Act or Canadian Human Rights Act – claim based on common law right for unconscionable contract to be set aside and equitable principles of unjust enrichment – Supreme Court had jurisdiction over such claims – regulatory scheme does not oust court’s jurisdiction regarding plaintiff’s common law cause of action – Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations did not expressly permit airlines to charge per-seat fares for additional seating to accommodate disabilities of passengers on international flights – Regulations and provincial consumer protection legislation can be harmoniously interpreted – appeal dismissed
• Motion, scope of grievance, vaccination exemption – Air Canada v Air Line Pilots’ Association, 2025 CanLII 37555 (CA LA) Association brought multiple grievances regarding denial of religious exemptions to COVID vaccination – grievors placed on unpaid leave as of October 31, 2021 – pilots objecting on other grounds were granted paid leave pending consideration of possible accommodation – Air Canada’s Step 2 reply stated that exemption requests were granted and grievors placed on unpaid leave with benefits as of May 9, 2022 – Association argued that Air Canada’s granting of exemption effectively conceded an error and required compensation for grievors’ lost income from October 31, 2021 to May 9, 2022 – brought motion to limit scope of proceeding on basis that this aspect of grievance was resolved and could not be reopened – Air Canada disputed Association’s interpretation of Step 2 reply – Arbitrator found that Air Canada was prepared to place grievors on same footing as colleagues going forward only – no mention of any compensation, including retroactive – Step 2 language did not allow arbitrator to “deem” more than what Air Canada expressly stated – claim for period before May 9, 2022 remains live issue in arbitration – motion dismissed
• Arbitration, minutes of settlement, non-disparagement – St. John’s International Airport Authority v UCTE/PSAC, 2025 CanLII 35903 (ON LA) Chris Bussey was Fire Captain at St. John’s International Airport Authority (“SJIAA”) – took leave to become Regional Vice President of Union of Canadian Transportation Employees – various legal proceedings between Mr. Bussey and SJIAA were settled by Minutes of Settlement (“MOS”) that included non-disparagement provision and provision prohibiting contact with SJIAA and employees – SJIAA alleged that Mr. Bussey breached MOS through contact with SJIAA Fire Captain and public criticism of Canadian airports, which constituted criticism of SJIAA – sought return of monies paid to Mr. Bussey and direction that further payments not required – Mr. Bussey admitted to contacting Fire Captain but argued, along with Union, that declaration was appropriate remedy – both also argued that general criticism of safety at all Canadian airports did not constitute criticism of SJIAA in breach of MOS – arbitrator found breach of no-contact requirement and issued declaration as remedy – no other breach of MOS – in circumstances where Mr. Bussey was longstanding airport safety advocate, which SJIAA knew when MOS signed, Mr. Bussey’s statements about airports in Canada did not constitute MOS breach – facts did not establish targeting of SJIAA – SJIAA’s allegation regarding breach of non-disparagement provision dismissed
• Breach of contract, helicopter purchase – Cadham v. Levasseur, 2025 BCCRT 532 Applicant sued for return of $4,500 deposit provided to respondent for purchase of helicopter – respondent alleged that applicant breached contract by failing to provide balance of $40,500 for helicopter – respondent claimed $1,476.23 for rental expenses, hotel costs, and gas, and $6,000 for travel and food expenses – Tribunal did not accept respondent’s argument that Tribunal was improper forum – dispute had real and substantial connection to B.C. because applicant lived there – Ontario unlikely to be more convenient forum – Tribunal found that parties had binding agreement – applicant purchased helicopter subject to respondent providing proper documentation and helicopter being airworthy – drew adverse inference from respondent’s failure to provide helicopter documentation without explanation – found that evidence would show respondent does not own helicopter or evidence does not exist – applicant did not repudiate contract – respondent did not satisfy conditions of sale – respondent ordered to return $4,500 deposit and pay $175 in Tribunal fees to applicant

CIRB Decisions

• Bargaining unit order – GardaWorld Security Screening Inc. – Order No. 12077-U TC Local 1976 USW certified to be bargaining agent for unit comprising “all employees of GardaWorld Security Screening Inc. working as pre-board screening officers, security checkpoint coordinators and security screening trainers at the following regional airports: Val-d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda, Bagotville, Alma, Gaspé, Chibougamau-Chapais, La Grande-Rivière, Kuujjuarapik, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, Baie-Comeau, Mont-Joli, Sept-Îles and La Macaza-Mont-Tremblant International, excluding security service managers and those above the rank of security service manager”
• Bargaining unit order – Paladin Airport Security Services Ltd. – Order No. 12078-U Teamsters Local Union No. 395 certified to be bargaining agent for unit comprising “all employees of Paladin Airport Security Services Ltd. working at the Saskatoon International Airport, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and employed in the position of screening contractor training representative or engaged in security screening, including the screening of passengers, non-passengers, vehicles, and baggage, excluding service delivery managers, managers, and those above the rank of manager”

CTA News and Decisions  

• Suspension – Fly Play hf. – Determination No. A-2025-69 Application by licensee for suspension of Licence 22001 – licence suspended
• Suspension – Voluxis Limited – Order No. 2025-A-S-61 Licence 210002 – reinstated effective April 25, 2025
• Application – Granite Helicopters Inc. – Determination No. A-2025-70 Application for licence to operate a domestic service, small aircraft – licence issued
• Application – Trade North Aviation Ltd. c.o.b. Air Sandy – Determination No. A-2025-71 Application for licence to operate a domestic service, small aircraft – licence issued
• Application – 3122999 MANITOBA LTD. c.o.b. Cranberry Air – Determination No. A-2025-73 Application by licensee requesting continued suspension of Licence 220012 – suspension continued
• Application – Türk Hava Yollari Anonim Ortakligi (Turkish Airlines Inc.), c.o.b. Turkish Airlines – Determination No. A-2025-77 Application for extra-bilateral authority to permit Turkish Airlines to operate an additional flight per week between Türkiye and Canada from June 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025 – Agreement between Government of Canada and Government of the Republic of Turkey on Air Transport (“Agreement”) allowed each country to allocate twelve weekly flights – Turkish Airlines currently operates maximum allocated flights – Canadian Transportation Agency (“CTA”) previously approved Turkish Airlines’ temporary operation of one extra-bilateral weekly flight – denied subsequent application for five extra-bilateral weekly flights because further extension would have substantially changed negotiated regime of Agreement outside ongoing negotiation process – temporary authorities granted by CTA are for service not permitted in bilateral air transport agreement and are an exception going beyond rights negotiated by countries – Canada and Türkiye expanded Agreement in December 2023 to allow four additional weekly all-cargo flights, but no similar agreement regarding passenger flights – not appropriate to grant authority sought – no compelling new evidence or arguments justifying granting exceptional authority to operate flights over and above negotiated rights for second consecutive year – application denied

TC/TSB News

• Airworthiness Directives
• Civil Aviation Safety Alerts

Industry Association News

• ACI – ACI World drives progress in aviation security at ICAO Aviation Security Panel / 36
• ACI – Airports face financial challenges despite air traffic rebound, ACI World Economics Report reveals
• ATAC – ATAC is seeking a new President & CEO
• ATAC – Congratulation to past ATAC Director for his election as MP
• CBAA – Your Weekly Bulletin – May 1, 2025
• IATA – Air cargo demand grows 4.4% in March
• IATA – March passenger demand grows 3.3%
• NACC – Federal election 2025: What do the results mean for aviation in Canada?

Union News 

• ALPA – ALPA Canada congratulates Mark Carney on being elected Canada’s Prime Minister
• ALPA – ALPA President congratulates newly elected Canadian government
• Unifor2002 – Air Canada Flight Ops members: Bargaining update for April 30

Airport News 

• 2 teens charged with arson after fire seriously damages remote First Nation’s airport terminal
• 2026 trial date set for $2.4M lawsuit over unpaid runway lights at Stephenville airport
• Aspire Executive Lounges and Westjet open co-branded garden lounge at Calgary Airport
• Brandon considering offering direct flights to Toronto
• Flooding cuts off airport access in Kashechewan First Nation as evacuation continues
• Saskatoon Airport Authority welcomes new Board leadership and member
• YQR says more than 23,000 have flown from Regina to U.S. destinations this year

Rotary Operator News

• Canadian Air Parts appointed exclusive Canadian distributor for Cascade Fire Buckets by Kawak Aviation Technologies
• Honouring the incredible life of STARS founder Dr. Greg Powell
• How the helicopter industry is coping with on-again, off-again tariffs
• Vertical’s 2025 Helicopter and Engine Manufacturers Survey now open
• Wildland firefighting drones are being tested in B.C.

General Aviation News

• Aéro Montréal and Espace Aéro announce two strategic appointments during their first joint annual general meeting
• Aeroplan wins big at the prestigious 2025 Freddie Awards
• Air Canada marks AC34 YVR-YYZ on April 27, 2025 as an Indigenous celebratory flight
• Air Canada took couple to court rather than pay $2K compensation. A year later, it gave in
• Airbus A321XLR: An exclusive look at Air Canada’s new narrowbody ‘game-changer’
• AirSprint celebrates 25 years of excellence as Canada’s largest fractional jet operator
• CC-130J Hercules set to conduct flyby to mark 80th anniversary of Operation MANNA
• JetBlue hits pause on plans for seasonal Halifax-Boston flight
• Manitoba adding 3 new DHC-515 water bombers to its firefighting fleet
• Marc Parent: Buy Canadian has to extend to aerospace and defence if Canada is to defend its borders
• MDA Space Chief People, Culture and Transformation Officer Stephanie McDonald named one of Canada’s Best Executives by the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business Magazine
• New search-and-rescue planes to reach 2-hour ‘alert’ milestone in B.C.
• Pressing for a sustainable aviation fuel policy
• Quebec’s Eastern Townships chosen for giant cargo airship project
• RCMP in eastern Newfoundland take over search for pilot of downed small plane
• Wildfire evacuations underway in parts of Fort St. John, cellphone and internet down in Tumbler Ridge