Air Transat pilots are scheduled to walk off the job Wednesday at 5:01 a.m. local time, after union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike. The union, representing about 750 pilots, called the strike on December 7, 2025. Overwhelmingly, 99 percent of pilots authorize strike action if needed. Perhaps even more remarkable, 98 percent of eligible pilots voted in the ballot.
The union’s announcement was made early on December 7, with the first update provided at 9:48 AM, followed by further communication at 10:37 AM. The issues The pilots, as they are called, are in active negotiations with Air Transat management. The rollout has been painfully slow and so the union is threatening to take industrial action.
As it stands, a 21-day cooling-off period is in effect and is scheduled to end on December 10. This period offers Congress the chance to broker an agreement between the parties before a work stoppage begins. Should a settlement not be reached, the pilots will be legally permitted to strike after the statutory cooling-off period expires.
Beyond the looming strike, management still has the option to lock workers out after December 10. This would be the last thing everyone needs if negotiations stall and neither side can come to an acceptable deal.
The union’s leadership has repeatedly warned about long-standing grievances that have not been adequately addressed in present negotiations. As they have consistently stated, the strike action is never taken lightly. It is precisely the right thing to do to help unions support their members in fighting for safe working conditions and increased compensation.
As the deadline approaches, both the pilots and management are under pressure to engage in meaningful dialogue that could avert a strike. These negotiations will have an equally huge impact on the pilots. Travellers who rely on Air Transat to reach their destinations are looking at having to readjust as well.
