"Air Canada is a big, big player for our airport, as they are for many communities in Canada, and if there is disruption of this scale it will be very impactful for our country," said Regina Airport CEO James Bogusz. (980 CJME file photo)

By Abby Zieverink, CKOM News Staff

Airport CEO watching closely as Air Canada pilot strike looms

Sep 11, 2024 | 11:18 AM

If you’re planning to fly in or out of Saskatchewan with Canada’s biggest airline, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your flight status this weekend.

Air Canada announced on Monday that it is finalizing contingency plans which could see the airline suspend most of its operations as negotiations with its pilots’ union over a new contract agreement remain stalled. The airline said the two parties “remain far apart” as job action looms.

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Unless an agreement is reached, the pilots’ union or the airline could issue a 72-hour strike or lock-out notice as early as Sunday, triggering a three-day winding down of services. According to the airline, some planes could be grounded and holiday packages cancelled as early as Friday.

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James Bogusz, the Regina Airport Authority’s president and CEO, said the airport is keeping a close eye on the situation, as a disruption at Air Canada would be “massively impactful” to YQR.

“Air Canada is a big, big player for our airport, as they are for many communities in Canada, and if there is disruption of this scale it will be very impactful for our country,” said Bogusz.

“We typically see three flights a day to Vancouver and three flights a day to Toronto – obviously both ways – meaning six per route each way in total. That is a lot of seats.”

As a possible travel disruption looms, the airline said customers with bookings between Sunday and Monday can make changes at no cost, or receive a travel credit. Bogusz reminded passengers of that offer, but added that he’s still optimistic that a strike or lockout can be avoided.

“Like any labour disruption impacting our country, we are always concerned, and are watching hopefully to see a resolution to this issue,” Bogusz said.

He asked travellers to be understanding and patient if job action does happen.

“It is very frustrating when your flights get delayed or cancelled, but I can assure you it is not the fault of the local staff at the airport in terms of an agent at an Air Canada counter,” Bogusz explained.

If the airport finds out there is an imminent disruption to flights, Bogusz said staff will help to get the word out to passengers as quickly as possible.

The union, representing more than 5,200 Air Canada pilots, is pushing to see salaries increased to bring them closer to what pilots in the United States have negotiated. But the airline is calling the compensation demands “excessive.”

–with files from the Canadian Press