Air Canada, pilots reach deal for more aircraft in low-cost Rouge unit

Air Canada has reached a deal with its pilots that will allow the airline to increase the number of aircraft operating in its low-cost Rouge unit. Air Canada said that the Air Canada Pilots Association agreed to amendments to the current 10-year labour deal that will allow the company to improve flexibility and lower costs. The agreement permits Air Canada to expand the number of narrow-bodied planes in the Rouge fleet as it expands its mainline fleet. Under the initial agreement, Rouge was limited to a maximum of 50 planes. Air Canada is bumping up against that limit with the current Rouge fleet at 49. The Air Canada Pilots Association said the amendments to the deal include a new pension plan for pilots hired after 2012 that is a multi-employer plan that improves on the existing defined contribution plan. <br/>