Air Canada reaches agreement with pilots union, averting strike

Air Cana  said early on Sunday it h reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union over a new four-year collective agreement, in a deal that will avert a near-term strike or lockout.

Cana's largest airline said in a statement that terms of its new agreement with Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) representing more than 5,200 pilots will remain confidential, pending a ratification vote by its members expected to be completed over next month.

Air Cana and Air Cana Rouge, which operate nearly 670 flights per day, will continue flying as rmal, airline said.

Before tentative agreement was reached, airline h been preparing to progressively cancel flights over three days, and completely shut down its operations as early as 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

ALPA said in a separate statement that its leers h approved tentative agreement with Air Cana for member ratification.

Labour Minister Steve MacKinn said in a post on X that travel disruptions for Canians were prevented thanks to hard work of parties and federal mediators.

Air Cana's pilots were demanding w rates that would narrow pay gap with ir counterparts at major US carriers such as United Airlines UAL.O.