Thousands of passengers could be stranded as early as Sunday if Air Canada doesn’t reach a deal with its pilots’ union.
Without a deal by Sept. 15, the airline could issue a 72-hour lockout notice, while the union may issue notice of a strike, triggering the carrier’s three-day shutdown of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge operations, according to Air Canada in a press release Monday.
Air Canada said Monday that it’s finalizing contingency plans to suspend most of its operations as both parties remain far apart in talks. It projects that the three-day suspension could affect 110,000 passengers daily. Flights are operating as scheduled as negotiations continue with the Air Line Pilots Association.
“Flight delays and cancellations resulting from labour disruptions, should they occur, are unlikely to occur before mid-September,” the airline wrote on its website. “If your flight is cancelled by Air Canada, you will then be eligible for a full refund regardless of your fare type; furthermore, …