Flair pilots file for conciliation as negotiations hit impasse  

The Flair Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) has filed for conciliation with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) following an impasse in negotiations with management.

Flair MEC chair First Officer Aimee Wintle said: “Our pilot group is more united than ever. We are ready to reach our second collective agreement and secure one we deserve.”

And Wintle continued: “After eight months of negotiations, we remain focused on securing a fair agreement that advances quality of life, compensates pilots properly, strengthens pensions, and ensures Flair is a place where pilots can build long, sustainable careers.”

Filing for conciliation is a common step in bargaining, designed to help secure an agreement while setting clear timelines for completion.

Under the FMCS process, a conciliation officer is appointed to help the parties. This process can last up to 60 days, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period. If no agreement is reached, or conciliation is not extended, either party may pursue its legal options after a 72-hour notice, in accordance with the Canada Labour Code.

More than 270 ALPA pilots fly for Flair, Canada’s first independent ultra-low-cost carrier, which operates scheduled domestic passenger service to 35 destinations across Canada and North America.