Air Canada Faces Strike Deadline Amid Labor Contract Dispute

Air Canada and its pilots are in a standoff over a new labor contract, with a looming deadline to avert a strike. If no agreement is reached, operations may be disrupted starting Sept. 18, affecting 110,000 passengers daily and causing significant economic impact. The pilots demand a fair agreement, citing wage disparities with U.S. counterparts.

Air Canada and its pilots are locked in a standoff over a new labor contract and face a Sunday deadline to reach a deal that would avert strike action.

If the two parties do not reach an agreement by the end of Saturday, Sept. 14, they will both have the option to issue either a strike or lockout notice, triggering Air Canada's three-day plan to wind down operations. This would lead to flight cancellations starting as early as Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau stated the airline remains committed to reaching a deal but accused the pilots' union of making excessive wage demands. The union, however, argues that a strike can be avoided with a fair agreement, highlighting that some U.S. pilots earn significantly more than their Canadian counterparts.

(With inputs from agencies.)