Air Transat pilots vote overwhelmingly to strike if necessary
Results of the Air Transat pilots strike vote were released this morning, with 99% of pilots voting ‘Yes’ to strike if necessary.
Union officials said that: “This overwhelming vote sends a clear message to management: our pilot group is unified, determined, and prepared for job action if the company does not provide us with a modern contract.”
In announcing the vote, Air Transat pilots’ MEC and SPSC Committee stated that: “This authority is essential as we enter the final negotiation window before the earliest legal strike deadline on Dec. 10. Management should know by now that we are not bluffing. Your MEC is ready, your Negotiating Committee is fully engaged, and your SPSC Committee is mobilized, just as you, our pilots, are.”
And it continued: “To support our collective preparation, the Air Transat Pilots Strike Center is open and fully operational. This center is fully staffed, and we are ready to provide all necessary support, including advice on possible financial impacts, pilot repatriation, and the coordination of all union action.”
Air Transat pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).
Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair, said: “This vote sends an undeniable message to Air Transat management: We are unified, resolute, and have earned a contract that reflects today’s industry standards, not the standards from 2015. The 98 percent participation rate alone demonstrates the depth of frustration among our members, who are tired of flying under a decade-old and outdated collective agreement.”
Small continued: “Let us be clear, we do not want to strike. Our goal remains to reach an equitable agreement at the negotiating table. However, after nearly a year of slow bargaining and little progress, we urge management to utilize the remaining time and negotiate seriously to avoid operational and flight disruptions.”
Contract negotiations between Air Transat pilots and the airline began in January 2025. The parties left conciliation on Nov. 18, 2025 and are currently in a 21-day cooling-off period, ending Dec. 10, 2025 after which the union can file a 72-hour strike notice or management can impose a lockout.
The union has released a podcast, hosted by Frederick Phaneuf, and guests MEC Secretary-Treasurer Antoine Brébant and SPSC Chair Samer El-Husseini, that discusses the possibilities of different scenarios if pilots are forced to take job action, including the loss of pay and benefits, the different types of strikes, and details on the mandatory participation requirements for receiving strike pay.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
